Address to Working Men, by Felix Holt
The novel "Felix Holt" by George Eliot tells the story of a young man who returns to his hometown after years away and becomes involved in local politics. The book explores themes of social class, gender roles, and political corruption.
By George Eliot · First published 1866 · Genre: Political Fiction, Social Commentary, Philosophical Fiction · 9,932 words
First lines
Fellow-Workmen: I am not going to take up your time by complimenting you. / It has been the fashion to compliment kings and other authorities when / they have come into power, and to tell them that, under their wise and / beneficent rule, happiness would certainly overflow the land. But the / end has not always corresponded to that beginning. If it were true that / we who work for wages had more of the wisdom and virtue necessary to the / right use of power than has been shown by the aristocratic and mercantile / classes, we should not glory much in that fact, or consider that it / carried with it any near approach to infallibility.
What this Textopian page supports
Address to Working Men, by Felix Holt is listed on Textopian as an essay by George Eliot, dated 1866 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Essay
- Author: George Eliot
- Date: 1866 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Political Fiction, Social Commentary, Philosophical Fiction, Historical Fiction, Didactic Literature
- Length: 9,932 words
- Structure: 1 section, 48 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Difficult (10th-12th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Address to Working Men, by Felix Holt by George Eliot
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
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Genres
- Political Fiction — The text addresses political themes, focusing on the responsibilities and challenges faced by working men in the context of political power and societal change.
- Social Commentary — The work critiques societal norms and practices, discussing issues like class distinctions, social justice, and the moral responsibilities of individuals and groups.
- Philosophical Fiction — The narrative delves into philosophical discussions about wisdom, virtue, and the nature of societal progress, reflecting on human nature and ethical considerations.
- Historical Fiction — The text references historical events and societal conditions, such as the Reform Bill of 1832, to contextualize its arguments and themes.
Tags
politics · labor · working class · social reform · industrialization · class struggle · activism · rhetoric · economic inequality · 19th century · British literature · social justice