Narrative Criticism of “Hyperion to a Satyr”
Are people today judged by their personal hygiene? Are social classes determined by stink? Aldous Huxley’s “Hyperion to a Satyr” strongly addresses the relationship between stink and social class. How did stink show social class in the past? The essay sharply states that stink is a factor of lower social class and the more dirt and grime one has, the lower the class. How did stink show social class in the middle ages?
Aldous Huxley wrote “Hyperion to a Satyr” in 1986. It discusses the subject of stink, and its components like dirt, grime, and sewage. The article changes from time period to time period. The essay describes how stink was first accepted, and then later how it distinguished social class. The essay not only discusses lower class but also contributes on how the upper class viewed stink. It discusses sewage systems of the past and present, and their relative role in society.
In the analysis paragraph I will conduct a narrative criticism. I will start with examining the narrative in detail to gain an understanding of its meaning as a whole. Then I will examine the setting with respect to the time period, and the social preset. Next, I will describe the characters as each being a social class. I then will examine the subjectivity and objectivity of the narrator to establish facts on social class. I will then describe the major events that cause the difference in social classes. Next, I will discuss the relationship between the events and how they are presented. The next step will be describing the cause and effect of stink and social classes. Finally, I will illustrate how the theme of the essay affects the subject of stink and social classes.
This narrative begins with the narrator comparing a California beach of the past to the present. He is disgusted with the dirt, grime and “contraceptives” on the beach today. He then begins to describe “dirt” and related subjects like grime, and odors, and how at first they were accepted in early times. Then he continues with how, over time, stink began to distinguish social classes. He also describes the origin of sewers and their role then and now. Finally, he incorporates symbols by relating the past and the present to describe how we presently use stink to distinguish social class.
The setting in this narration covers many time periods, although I will discuss the time period of the Middle Ages. Huxley describes the setting “Dirt, then, seemed natural and proper, and dirt in fact was everywhere.” (P 141) In this quote the setting is establish as dirty and acceptable. This is before sewers and proper means of disposal were invented. The people of the middle ages lived in mass dumps with unsanitary streets. Pigs were living side by side with children. The whole area was a slum. As time evolved, the setting began to change. The wealthy began to clean themselves up, and began accepting cleanliness. This is the setting in which stink started to become a social issue.
The two main characters in Huxley’s essay are the “upper class” and the “lower class”. The “lower class” is described in this essay, “Their clothes were old and unclean, and there bodies sweaty, their mouths horrible with decay.” The “upper class” is referred to in this artifact by using Caesar. Huxley describes the scene in which Caesar gave the commoners a speech. Caesar is appalled with their stink, which is opposite of his own stink. This essay clearly established opposing characters, which clearly are, know as the “upper class” and the “lower class”.
Huxley is predominatly objective. He states the fact of dirt and stink. He describes the people as how they are, and lays the facts about the setting and the sewers. Huxley often uses quotes and references to past works. In this essay he quotes from Menenius and Cleopatra. Huxley is also slightly subjective. He sees the dirt and grime in an extreme view. Altogether Huxley’s many facts and slight opinions give a good view of explaining the situation and the different social classes.
The major events in this essay are described by Huxley to establish the difference between the social classes. In the beginning Huxley describes the cities as a mass dump. The people knew no better than to accept dirt, then in invention of soap and water came. The wealthy could afford this idea and began to accept it. This event began the separation of the classes. Now the wealthy were clean and the poor were dirty and unable to buy soap and water. Finally, the invention of modern sewage system helped the wealthy stay clean and allowed the city to air out. The poor were still living in the slums and were still dirty. Huxley describes these major events to distinguish between the classes.
Huxley establishes the cause and effect of stink and social class in this essay well. The beginning fact of this distinction is soap. Soap is the cause and the effect in the long run is underlying lower class. Huxley describes the process by which soap began to be used and then the effect of this. The effect is that the wealthy were clean, and the poor couldn’t afford to follow this habit.
Huxley’s essay is addressed to today’s society. He is trying to explain the ongoing distinction between the social classes, by giving a background of stink. He then relates the past to the future. He mentions symbols when he writes, “bad smells may be made to stand for social inferiority, dirt for a low IQ, vermin for immorality, sickness for a status beneath the human.” He leaves the audience thinking about symbols and how the social classes of the past reflect the social classes today.
Huxley maintains a main theme throughout his paper. Stink causes a distinction between social classes. He supports this theme in almost every paragraph and with the support I have mentioned above. The theme of this essay clearly answers the research question. How does stink show social class in the middle ages?
The analysis of the setting, characters, narrator, events, and audience undoubtedly prove social distinction by stink. Are we this judgmental today? Most definitely. Is a dirty construction worker, no matter his financial position, consider lower class. Most definitely!!
Alisa Woofter 1 Ewald 105H12