Culture and Anarchy · Chapter
Barbarians, Philistines, Populace explained
Arnold completes his analysis of the three English classes—Barbarians (aristocracy), Philistines (middle class), and Populace (working class)—by examining their defects as well as their mean and excess.
What happens
Arnold completes his analysis of the three English classes—Barbarians (aristocracy), Philistines (middle class), and Populace (working class)—by examining their defects as well as their mean and excess. He offers himself as an example of the defect of middle-class qualities, and discusses how each class is flattered by its leaders, leading to self-satisfaction and resistance to true culture. He also notes that all classes share a common human nature, which fosters indulgence and sweetness.
Themes in this chapter
Social Class and the 'Three Classes'
Arnold defines and analyzes the Barbarians, Philistines, and Populace, examining their virtues, excesses, and defects.
Critique of Liberalism and 'Doing as One Likes'
Criticizes the Populace for asserting the privilege of 'doing as one likes' and the self-satisfaction of each class.
Sweetness and Light
The chapter emphasizes the need for culture to overcome class self-love and achieve inward perfection, linking to sweetness and light.
Characters to notice
- Narrator
Offers himself as an illustration of defect in middle-class qualities, noting his slackness at great works and his lack of self-satisfaction.
- Mr. Frederic Harrison
Quoted for his phrase 'bright powers of sympathy and ready powers of action' and for flattering the working class.
- Mr. Odger
Cited as the virtuous mean of working-class qualities.
- Mr. Bradlaugh
Cited as the excess of working-class qualities.
- Mr. Lowe
Mentioned for calling the Populace drunken and venal in fear for his Philistine Parliament.
- Barbarians
Described as the aristocratic class, with a defect of pusillanimous unaptness for resistance.
- Philistine
Described as the middle class, with a defect of helpless inaptitude for great works and lack of self-satisfaction.
- Plato
Quoted for the expression 'with the things of itself and not its real self' regarding the working class.
Key passages
“From a man without a philosophy no one can expect philosophical completeness.”
Arnold admits he lacks a systematic philosophy, so his analysis will not be fully comprehensive.
Sets the tone for his informal, self-deprecating approach.
“I will venture to humbly offer myself as an illustration of defect in those forces and qualities which make our middle class what it is.”
Arnold uses himself as an example of the shortcomings of the middle class.
Illustrates his method of self-critique.
“The Barbarians remain in the belief that the great broad-shouldered genial Englishman may be well satisfied with himself; the Philistines remain in the belief that the great middle class of this country... may be well satisfied with itself: the Populace, that the workingman... may be well satisfied with himself.”
Each class is complacent, believing in its own superiority.
Highlights the central problem of self-satisfaction.
“It is wholly occupied, according to Plato’s subtle expression, with the things of itself and not its real self, with the things of the State and not the real State.”
The working class focuses on external goods and class interests rather than inner perfection.
Applies Plato's idea to critique class consciousness.
