Egenolf Article

After reading Egenolf's Maria Edgeworth in Blackface: Castle Rackrent and the Irish Rebellion of 1798, my understanding of Castle Rackrent and Edgeworth have dramatically increased. Part of me wishes I would have read this article before hand, but after considering for awhile it makes sense to read it after a first take reaction. Egenolf makes a very interesting and informative analysis of the themes and reasons for which Edgewrth wrote in relation to the time period and events that surrounded her. “and reading of the novel is incomplete without considering these surrounding events” (Egenolf p.851). I'm not sure if I agree with all Egenolf has to say, but I will admit that she provided very legitimate and intriguing representations of Edgeworth and the Anglo-Irish aristocracy of the time.

I think I was way off in much of my original interpretation of Castle Rackrent. At first I got the impression that Edgeworth was hinting at an opinion that the distribution of wealth should be radically changed and that she was completely opposed to the structuring of social classes in Ireland at the time.

I did not, however, know beforehand that Edgeworth herself was Anglo-Irish and that she was apart of the upper class. As Egenolf says,

“...presents information in the editorial commentary to convince us of its simplicity and authenticity, while simultaneously presenting evidence which alerts us to the political tension in Ireland. The form of Castle Rackrent thus imitates the type of government the Edgeworths were advocating for the Irish—rational and fair Anglo-Irish land ownership which would benevolently guide the native peasants and commercially manage the land. Although the Edgeworths consistently supported education for all classes, Maria believed the lower classes should not partake in governing...” (Egenolf p. 851).

It seems that although Edgeworth is in favor of celebrating Irish identity, she does not want to be in danger of losing her position in society for various reasons. For one, she had good reason to be scared of an unorganized uprising of native Irish insurgents that could possibly become violent towards Anglo-Irish landowners (seeing them as being connected to Great Britain and thus need to be removed.) Egenolf gives examples of how her family (especially her father) was threatened in the article. Also, philosophically, thinking the lower class (mostly uneducated) should not govern is nothing new. Even in the United States, the Electoral College was created so “educated” people could be elected to vote for the common “uneducated” man. However, in Edgworth's case, it seems that she is concerned with redistribution for two reasons.

The first of these has to do with the paradox of who actually has claim to or the right to own the land in Ireland. As Egenolf says, “A central question of the novel becomes , Whose land is it and what right do they have to it? One glossary note warns of the cunning rhetorical maneuvers the Irish employ to obtain their landlords' property and the caution which must be exercised in yielding to even the smallest claim: 'Thady calls it their whiskey; not that the whiskey is actually the property of the tenants, but that it becomes their right after it often has been given to them' (Egenolf p.854). Because Irland is one of the English's oldest colonies it is impossible to actually say who has the original right or who has ties to the land there.

Edgeworth seems to be saying that the Anglo-Irish should stay in power and manage the land because no one can really say who has the right to the land. She also backs this up by saying that they are educated enough and are more capable of managing the wealth and power than the lower class. Her opinion of this is probably due to what she saw during the rebellion and reflects her fear of an angry, violent, and disorganized uprising of the Irish lower class could put Ireland in danger of a collapse of its infrastructure (or possible invasion of the French if they won independence).

The second concern with redistribution of wealth and class structure seems to come from a possibly selfish point of view. It seems that Edgeworth just didn't want to give up her power and place in the upper class. Even though her family inherited its land, (it being given to them because of British domination) she feels that she still has the right to continue passing it down to her family's children...because her class will always be more qualified (than the native, inferior lower class) to govern and manage land and wealth. Egenolf says,

“Edgeworth here pointedly summarizes the condition of Anglo-Irish landholders at the end of the eighteenth century. The land was theirs only by law, but they had been conditioned to believe that their claim was inherently just and that any move to redress this situation could dangerously upset the balance of power” (Egenolf p. 859).

This, however, is puzzling in to what extend Edgeworth's desire for the Anglo-Irish to keep there power in governing solely based on the argument that they are more educated and more just to govern. I can not tell wether Edgworth realizes that the class structure and law are based on British colonial discourse. Even if she did realize this, does she want to stay in power for selfish reasons? I will end with another quote from Egenolf that has to do with Edgeworths “blackface” use of the lower class Irish in the novel...and possibly promotes her desire for the Anglo-Irish to maintain possesion of land and government:

“Just as the political turmoil in Ireland arose of the native Irish, the most ominous signs of the turmoil in Castle Rackrent appear at those points where the narratives (Thady's and the Editor's) discuss property rights. Edgeworth recasts the physical threat of the native Irish in a linguistic light, for in reality, all that separates Anglo-Irish landlords from their tenants are special groups of words which form such documents as the Penal Laws...in a court of law emphasize the pervasiveness of language in controlling the possession of land” (Egenolf p.853).

What is interesting to consider is that even though the Edgeworth's promoted education for all classes, it seems they did not want the lower class to ever have an opportunity to govern themselves because of the violence that could be involved (directly threatening their family at the time) in a redistribution of wealth, power...and gaining full independence from Britain. It seems that the Edgeworths (especially Maria) wanted more equal representation with England and thought Ireland was too uncivilized to be independent ( largely wanting the status quo of heretical hierarchy not to change because their family was already in a position of power).

Is Edgeworth flexing her muscles with Castle Rackrent in order to reinforce the idea that the Anglo-Irish should keep their power and governing authority? And if so, is she doing it for selfish reasons knowing that the law and her “claim” to the land is a product of colonial dscourse?