A Portrayal of social condition in rural community in 19TH Century England depicted in George Eliot’s Adam Bede

ABSTRACT

Rural community is a kind of social groups that are often created by many authors in their literary works. Many literary works set in rural community and depict its social condition Sometimes, the ideas of their works come from social fact in certain society. Intentionally or not, less or much, their works is not only influenced by, but also influence certain society. That is why, a literary work, sometimes can be a reflection and expression of social condition in certain society in the certain place and era.

This study discusses the social condition in rural community depicted in George Eliot’s Adam Bede. This study purposes to investigate the characteristics of rural community in Eliot’s Adam Bede viewed from its living and its relationships among their members as the portrayal of its social condition and finds out how far it reflect the characteristics of real rural community in England 19th century where and when the the work is set.

The researcher chooses to apply sociological criticism approach in this study. Sociological criticism is a kind of literary criticism that focused on the correlation between literature and the society in both sides. It is commonly used by the researcher who wants to view literature as a mirror of the society. This method aims at answering the question about how far the literary work reflect the real social condition in the certain society in the certain place and era.

In the final of this study, the researcher concludes that the characteristics in rural community depicted in George Eliot’s Adam Bede is marked by the main activities of Hayslope community in the primary economic sector that is agriculture while the other works beside agriculture is the minority occupation. The most caharacters on Adam Bede work as farmers, like Squire Donnithorne who owns all the land in the village, Mrs. Poyser whose dairy supplies the other villagers and whose cream cheese renowned in the area, Hetty who spends her days on Mrs. Poyser’s diary for making butter and cheese, etc. While the others work in other fields, such as Adam and Seth Bede who work in workshop as carpenters. People who live in rural areas ranged from wealthy land owners to low income poor people. However, their social interaction patterns are influenced by kinship system. The tighter and deeper relation among the members that its realization have shape of the expresses of sympathy, mutual help unconditionally, the affection, loyalty, show uniformity of feeling, togetherness, and the entire forms of gemeinschaft system make the rural community live in peacefulness and harmonious condition. The affectionate descriptions in rural community seem on Adam’s notices for his ailing mother, caring his gentle brother, Seth Bede. The expresses the sympathy and mutual help of each other seems when the news of Adam or even Adam family’s misfortune and his sufferings spread entire the Hayslope community. Part of his neighbors invite Adam’s house and intend to offer some helps. It also happens when Hetty Sorrel, Mr. Poyser’s niece, experiences many problems of her life, especially when she is punished of murder her child, there are many people in the community show the expresses of sympathy by coming to the court for support her. Those descriptions above are not merely Eliot’s fantasy that has been poured in Adam Bede, the real images of rural community in England ninteenth century has influenced and inspired him in making condition in fictional community of Hayslope in the story. Finally, the researcher finds out that Adam Bede reflects the real phenomenon of rural community in England society at that time.