In Anthony Trollope's The Warden, the concern over the equitable distribution of the money provided by John Hiram's will is the main point of contention, affecting not only Septimus Harding, but also Archdeacon Grantly and the residents of Hiram's Hospital. Each character's perspective on the matter is associated with a certain degree of nobility, echoed by everyday Victorian sentiments about money.

The archdeacon has sufficient faith in the precepts of the Church, but is chiefly characterized by his absolute faith in the justice of its financial affairs:

When Dr. Grantly talks of unbelieving enemies, he does not mean to imply want of belief in the doctrines of the Church, but an equally dangerous scepticism as to its purity in money matters. (14)

Trollope does not mean to say that the archdeacon holds only money to be important, but rather that his position and intellect determined that financial matters are what he is best able to handle, and he takes great pride in his work. Worse than the archdeacon are eleven of the twelve hospital residents, who entirely betray the kindness of the warden in hopes of obtaining �100/year after his stipend has been dismantled. Trollope makes it clear that Septimus Harding also appreciates money, and makes good use of his �880/year. When he fears that his stipend may be unjust, he still becomes fully willing to abandon it, though he says that at his age, it will be difficult to bear. Though the warden is decently concerned with money, it is not to the exclusion of his morals. These characters roughly correspond to prevailing feelings regarding money matters in the Victorian period. George Landow states in "The Reality of Victorianism," "There was...unblinking worship of independence and hard cash;...belief in institutions . . . overwhelming self confidence...And, at the core, was the same tiny abcess�the nagging guilt as to the inherent contradiction between morality and the system (Victorian Web).

The bedesmen represent the worst elements in this model. Archdeacon Grantly is slightly better, though he does not see the conflict. Only the sympathetic Harding is aware of the problem and is willing to make a decision.

Trollope's views (via Harding) and the attempt by the Victorians to place noble sentiment over money is exemplified in a short article in the popular magazine, Punch, recounting the reward of a brave drummer boy in the Crimean War who brought water to wounded troops:

Prince Albert has heard the story; and the Prince, with the feelings of a soldier — for is not H. R. H. a Field-Marshal — intends to present the boy with — with with — (well, if it must be said) — with �5!

It is thus we cultivate true heroism. In France, for instance, the boy would have been spoiled. He would have been educated, promoted; and in time might have found one of his little drum-sticks converted to a Marshal's baton. We know better. We reward valour in a practical, business-like way; we pay ready money for it; and so have done with it once and for all. (p. 114)

Obviously, the Victorians did value heroism over money, and when they saw unjust practices, they were indeed outraged. What makes a satire like the above so effective, though, is that such "rewards" were not limited to Prince Albert, but could be seen in society's everyday attitude. Harding had the integrity to turn down money, and the drummer boy would have been viewed a hero regardless of the �5, and Victorians realized this. In general, though, they did not know how to shake their concern for money. Harding and the drummer boy were anomalies, as heroes tend to be.

Other Sections of "The Atypical Hero in the Victorian Novel"

Bibliography

Brownstein, Rachel M., Becoming a Heroine: Reading About Women in Novels. Viking, New York, 1982.

Pearson, Carol & Pope, Katherine, The Female Hero in American and British Literature. R. R. Bowker, New York, 1981.

"Heroism Kept in its Place," Punch. No. 714, March 17, 1855.


Victorian
Web

Authors

The
Warden
Punch

Last modified 1998