Is Castle Rackrent an elegy for or a satire of the landlord class

Maria Edgeworth's novel depicting the family history of the Rackrents is widely regarded as the definitive work of Irish regional prose fiction, giving a mystical character to a location and heritage, a technique that would follow in The Absentee and Scott's Waverly. It is noticeable that Edgeworth has decided to take on the narrative voice of 'Old' Thady Quirk, the retainer of the Family Rackrent.Not only has Edgeworth opted to alter her gender for the purposes of relating this tale, but she places responsibility for the history on the shoulders of a subordinate, solely on a servant's view to give us an overview of the character of a noble family.

This use of a traditional Irish figure, the long suffering but unswervingly loyal servant dedicated to the wellbeing of those he serves, allows Edgeworth to escape the restrictions placed on her by her own upbringing, and create a certain ambiguity in our response to Thady, and indeed the Rackrents.I hope to show that whilst this may cloud our interpretation of the goals of the text slightly, Edgeworth uses him as a tool to present us with both a laudation of the traditions that the ascendancy represent whilst still highlighting inherent faults. In fact often these vices, drinking, excess and poor management increase the charm of the characters and give them that mythic status attributed to them by Old Thady.Despite the obvious preference that Thady expresses for the aristocracy, he presents a far more impartial view than one might think. Since Thady appears a simple man, the masters he serves either live up to the ideal laid down by their forebears, or they fail in this regard, but in each case it is in Thady's judgements that we can seek a degree of objective assessment of Edgeworth's own feelings towards the landlord classes.

What Thady himself represents is another matter, since his native wit and unfailing loyalty seems unrealistic when shown opposite the shrewd and calculating figure of his son, but it their markedly different viewpoint only serve to highlight their similarity, if Thady were not so enamoured of his masters, it is more than possible that he would take up the mantle of his son's attack on them.Edgeworth's own background makes her eminently suitable for the task of writing this novel, and it is interesting that in the case of Castle Rackrent, the focus appears to be on the narrative and empathetic qualities of the characters rather than an implied moral message. If we take her earlier works, The Parent's Assistant and Early Lessons, then we can observe a clear didactic quality that may stem from her father's influence1.Since this text was written in his company, but without his aid it is easy to see that a desire to focus on the characters rather than morals may have arisen, and it is this that provides the compelling quality of what is in effect, a family history.

In Castle Rackrent Edgeworth has created an instantly appealing family of characters, even if it does not share the close bond to the people under its care that her own family experienced. There is a clear distinction between the bond between her family and the tenants of Edgeworthstown2, and the incredibly lax attitude taken by the Rackrents.Maria was required to serve as her father's agent with regard to the estate and household, and as such was aware of the temperaments of both peasants and landlords, giving her all the information she required to complete an accurate portrayal of the relationship and environment. It is unlikely however that the basis for the rambunctious and often insensitive Rackrent family is to be found in her own history.

The inconsistency with which the appearance and value of the landlords begins with the tales of Sir Patrick and his excess.That this story may be well known to the Irish, or indeed to anyone even remotely familiar with Irish folklore, is irrelevant, it is not intended as an historical document. Instead it implies a backbone of Irish heritage that I believe Edgeworth seeks to maintain. "When Ireland loses her identity by an union with Great Britain, she will look back with a smile of good-humoured complacency, on the Sir Kits and Sir Condys of her former existence.It is the element of the timeless Irishman that is being kept up here; the decision to write about figures past reflects the uncertainty of the time in which Edgeworth lived.

With the rebellion from France in 1798 quashed, the residents of Ireland were left with the embarrassing prospect of a hopeless submission to British rule. Thus in this case, Castle Rackrent serves as homily to what has gone before, and implies a quiet pride in the actions, and even the follies of what it may see as its heroes.The determination to live beyond means is forgiven because the first efforts of Sir Patrick were to give "the finest entertainment ever was heard of in the country"4. The inept control of finances which results in vast debts for his successor, Sir Murtaugh, are forgiven because his treatment of rich and poor alike was most genial. The fact that Sir Patrick had a responsibility to his tenants as their landlord is ignored completely because he could provide a good time for his friends.

Then the tradition of irresponsibility is continued because in Thady's eyes, as in those of all who witnessed it, the "villains who came to serve acted under the disguise of the law. "5 That their timing was insensitive, to steal the body during funeral to force reparations is irrelevant. The qualities that make up a man for the populace have nothing to do with adherence to law and order, but rather the natural worth applied by the community. Sir Patrick is lionised because of his good humour and this counts more than accordance with man's law.The same goes for Sir Kit, as we have seen above.

The only real reason to like Sir Kit, apart from his charm, is that by his own standards he acquitted himself well. When it came to gambling and loose women, Sir Kit had no equal and he was loved for it. That these may not be admirable qualities is not pertinent; since they are appear to be the main recourse for the landlords of that time. For Sir Murtaugh, the rebellious nature of the family is persistent, but he takes it from the position of a lawyer, and for a lawyer the best recourse to rebel is through law.Perhaps it is this that Edgeworth concerns herself with in Castle Rackrent, the idea of a unflinching character that refuses to conform to what may appear to be morally right in the eyes of the world. The conclusion of the preface certainly implies an Irish identity far removed from that created by the English, or even other Anglo-Irish writers in works like John Bull's Other Island.

This is the recognisable form that permeates through all the Rackrents, a character that is loved and approved of by the populace, regardless of its actual merits.There is no reason to dislike Sir Patrick or Sir Murtaugh, but they are hardly paragons of virtue. Seen through the eyes of Old Thady however, they exist as larger than life characters whose charm and allegiance are more important than the results of their actions. Edgeworth may have chosen the character of Thady to voice the sense of national pride and sentimentality that extends to the ancient family of the Rackrents, and in turn to the rest of Irish heritage and culture.

In this way the landlord class is certainly to be valued, even if we are never to take Thady's viewpoint as our own, or at face value.Newcomer thinks less of Thady, that the constant epithet of 'my son' or 'my son Jason' when referring to te trouble placed upon the family is evidence that despite the assurance that he would "wash my hand of his doings"6 he is secretly proud that his progeny are bringing down the family7. This rather cynical viewpoint would explain the over-effusiveness which permeates his praise of the family, and give Thady a twist of character that seems out of place in the elevation of the Irish image that Edgeworth appears to have portrayed.I believe that this is certainly a valid argument but rather than detract from the value of the landlords, rather it highlights the shrewdness of the peasantry.

The clever Irish rogue is a figure equal in folklore to that of the gregarious Lord, and in my opinion it strengthens the realism when viewed in this sense as well as increasing our curiosity for Thady. That sir Condy was his favourite, and the most easily manipulated of the Rackrents, even to his downfall presents us with the possibility that in truth, Thady is self-serving and cruel.This may take the supposition too far, but as with the rest of the novel, we only have Thady's word for any of this, and must keep this in mind to prevent being won over by Thady's charm. Sir Condy is an interesting figure, primarily because he was not raised as a lord, but seems to be more of a middle class figure raised to a position of power. As such he would be the easiest to control, and since he is "remote branch of the family" p. 25, has the least connection to the effect that the Rackrents seem to have over the people.

As such, he represents the landlord class at its worst, not strong enough to keep the estate together and bested by one of his former tenants. It is perhaps ironic that Condy seemed the most congenial and caring of his subordinates, certainly not the traditional behaviour of an Irish lord. The exchange of loyalty and responsibility between tenant and landlord seems to be the main focus of Edgeworth's novel, since there appears to be no obvious plot or indeed aim, save an accurate depiction of the type, and the certainty that these figures be noted and remembered.That it is exemplified so much in Old Thady's dedication to the family is clearly extreme and we expect no more to be made of it, since great pains are made to reduce Thady to something of a joke, his total subservience and simple devotion are comical since their basis is simple tradition.

Yet it is in the character and tone of the peasantry that we must find understanding of Edgeworth's book, and indeed the wealthy figures. All actions occur in the sight of Thady and so it is through him that we are forced to make any judgements or decisions.The actions of the nobles themselves are excused in the preface "the manners depicted in the following pages are not those of the present age... "8.

As such we do are not supposed to see them as contemporary figures for Edgeworth, more a retrospective glance at a particular age, and tradition. This eliminates any political or social commentary of Edgeworth's own period and as the location in time appears to be irrelevant, the novel loses very little through over time. Thus the only focus left to us is the strange interaction between servant and his many masters, and the fall of the family he serves.Thady himself is not a clear-cut figure, regardless of how much of the book depends upon the basic assumption that he is an uneducated and honest fellow.

"Where we see that a man has the power, we may naturally suspect that he has the will to deceive us"9. This could too easily be a double-bluff, Thady or as he has "always been 'Honest Thady'"10 as he is known, is given far too much credit and responsibility for his simple humility. It makes an interesting counterpoint therefore to set him next to his son.Newcomer notes that Thady's "native shrewdness"11 gives him a confusable character, since it is his affiliation with the family that makes him such a pleasant, unprepossessing character.

His dissatisfaction with Sir Kit's wife is based entirely on the damage that she did to the family. "It was a shame for her, being his wife, not to show more duty... "12.

This is grossly unfair considering the cruel torture that she was subjected to at the hands of her husband but again, there is no moral condemnation of the Sir Kit for locking her in a room for years or practicing adultery with many partners.Despite his basic empathy for Jessica, "I could not but pity her"p. 21, his only admonishment of Sir Kit is that "he was never cured of his gaming trick; but that was the only fault he had, God bless him! "13 This blind devotion seems incongruous with Thady's well meaning appearance, but it certainly shows us the selfish and thoughtless character of the type, whose desperation to maintain his land and power will drive him to immoral acts. For this we must chastise Thady, but it sets up the side that he must choose when a divide is placed between his own kin and the family he serves.Indeed Thady is so perturbed by his placement within a love triangle of Judy, Jason and Sir Condy that he limits his thoughts in the only way that he can; "but was only glad his honour had not the luck to hear all Judy had been saying of him"14.

This incident shows us the inherent weakness in Thady's character, his total and instinctual deference to his masters. "Jason... made me signs, and winks, and frowns; but I took no heed; for I was grieved and sick at heart for my poor master, and couldn't but speak" For Thady Quirk his son's actions are unconscionable because of the respect and loyalty due to his betters.

Yet Jason's actions, whilst perhaps acted out with a degree of disrespect, are certainly not as vicious as they might be. Indeed Jason acts as any ordinary businessmen would, merely acting to protect his own interests. The subtle gestures that he makes to Thady are intended as a tacit understanding that they are getting one up on their former masters, to share the joke that they are improving their status and will no longer be under the yoke of anyone. Had not Thady already set his place firmly at the side of the family, his wit and ability could easily have led him to rejoice in this elevation to a position above his station.

Indeed the pride that he shows in his association with so great and ancient a family reveals that the extent of value he places in his position, and if he could have risen any higher within the subordinate hierarchy, then it is likely he would have endeavoured to. However Thady's reaction to this is expected as we have seen by his indifference to the feelings of his family when the concerns for the 'family' are forefront in his mind. Thady does achieve a certain status and renown for his loyalty to the Rackrent family.The epithet 'honest' is granted to him because he is a reliable figure in the Rackrent family, extremely reliable since he outlasts four generations of his masters. In conclusion we are left with a dilemma, do we trust that Thady is constantly working for the god of the family, and therefore his words, or do we assume that he is conniving from the start? More importantly, which aspect of the landlords are we to respect most? The rather feeble form of Sir Condy, the excessive Sir Patrick, the boisterous Sir Kit?I think that Edgeworth has used a parody of the characters of the Irish nobility in order to ridicule them, since we must trust to an ambiguous aide for their references. However this does not prevent her from laying a stamp on them as strong and valuable Irish figures, and ones that should certainly be neither forgotten nor dismissed as worthless.

Despite the seeming aimlessness of the novel, Edgeworth's enticing narrative gives us an extremely broad view on the aristocracy, and reminds us that it was integral in forming the national pride of Ireland.