Throughout the play the audience would have reacted in different ways illustrating a variety of social contexts relating to Victorian values. In act 1 the modern audience’s reaction would have been anger when Hobson beat Will Mossop. Brighouse inserted this part about one man beating another to highlight the clear divisions in status and how it was perceived to be acceptable to do this in the Victorian times. “There’s nobbut one to answer to that kind of talk, my lad (He strikes with belt) and “you’ll get a leathering”.” Act 1 also portrayed his neglect for his business. Maggie who disapproved of this scolded “if you stay more than an hour in the Moon-rakers inn, you’ll be late for it.” The audience’s reaction would have been disgust that he would leave his three daughters responsible for the shop, while he went out for a drink.
Hobson’s attitude changed in Act 3, as did the judgement of the audience. Act 3 portrayed Hobson’s insecurity and his humiliation of the marriage settlement, when Maggie tricked him into paying for Vickey and Alice to get married. “I’ve been diddled. It’s a plant.” The audience reaction to that scene would have been laughter, because Hobson assumed himself to always be right, yet there he was being made a fool of by a woman. In addition, Hobson’s fear of lawyers was conveyed by “I dodged them, and they’ve caught me in the end. They’ll squeeze me dry for it.” Whilst he may have invoked a small degree of sympathy from the audience, most would have considered him to be a pathetic old man who deserved everything he that was thrown at him.
Act 4 highlighted Hobson’s near fatal weakness for alcohol. Many middle class Victorians were involved in temperance societies. Hobson had certainly wanted his daughters to marry temperance men, but he himself was diagnosed as suffering from “chronic alcoholism”. This could have led him to an early death had he not succeeded in obliterating it from his life. Hobson’s ultimate confrontation with Maggie and Will portrayed his loss of power. “You’re just my old shoehand” he said, yet Will answered back with confidence and self esteem. The audience reaction would have been relief and triumph that Will Mossop finally came out on top.
While considering Hobson’s effect on the audience it is important to also focus on Maggie’s role. In the late nineteenth century British women held a low position in society. They could not vote and could only work in factories or for their families, and therefore earned very little or nothing at all. They could only escape from their families through marriage, but needed permission and marriage settlements from their fathers in order for this to happen. In addition they could not be perceived to actually searching for a husband. Even if they did break from their father’s strict rules and ideas, there were their husband’s expectations to live up to. They were expected to maintain a passive role and conform to their husband’s rules, required to run the household without any help. The latest fashions in women’s clothing, for example the use of corsets and bustles were impossibly restrictive. Overall in the Victorian period women had few privileges.
In the character of Maggie these stereotypical attitudes towards women are overturned. In Act 1 Maggie is portrayed as a businesswoman, never missing an opportunity to make to make a sale when she forced Albert Prosser to purchase the boots. “They’re very good boots and you don’t need to buy a pair of laces today, because we gave them in as discount.” The audience reaction to this is most likely shock and anger in Victorian times, but in modern times no one would mind. The proposal to Will, would have provoked audience judgement. Even today a man would normally take the lead and propose to a woman. Maggie’s forceful and strong willed personality in contrast to Will’s timid character is evident -“You’re going to wed me.”
Particular incidents in Act 2 convey the turning attitudes towards women stereotypes. For example the point where she insists on getting a brass ring for her wedding ring, as she can not afford anything more. “Will and me aren’t throwing money away.” The reaction of the audience would have been one of astonishment, just as today when extravagant amounts are spent on weddings. The fact that Maggie gave Will the choice of marriage conveyed Maggie’s sentimental side and respect for church. “If you’re not willing, just say now” The audience’s minds would have been opened to a different side of Maggie and would probably have enjoyed seeing her more emotional side.
In Act 3 Maggie's business mind is portrayed well by Brighouse in her businesslike management of Hobson’s disgrace and her sister’s marriage settlements. Maggie hatched an effective and clever plan to force her father to pay for her sister’s marriage settlements. “Half of five hundred pound apiece for them to make a start on”
The audience response to this would have been pleasure that she finally reached her potential and was able to show off her academic skills. Once again Maggie’s sentimental side was expressed when she pressed one of her wedding flowers in her bible. “I thought I’d press it in my Bible for keepsake, Will” Audience judgement would have accepted that she has adopted a more sensitive approach to life.
Maggie’s Victorian sense of duty is portrayed in Act 4 when she came immediately to her father’s rescue on learning of his serious illness. “I’ve come” At this point the audience is likely to feel great respect for her willingness to help when her sisters did not want to interrupt their new lives to come to their father’s need. Maggie’s character has evolved through the play. The change is most obvious in the final act when she accepts Will’s final decision regarding the shop. “Very well. Mossop and Hobson” The response of the audience would have been pleasure that finally Will and Maggie are on a par instead of Maggie being the driving force of their relationship and the shop. However they might have felt sympathy for Maggie, as she had lost the power and Will was changing all her plans for the shop.
In fulfilling Brighouse’s purpose Maggie and Hobson produced varied audience reactions. Maggie presented different beliefs and sides to her personality to the audience. In my opinion Maggie was responsible daughter, the driving force of the shop and household, but often too controlling. She showed great loyalty when coming back to help her father in his time of need. As a sister Maggie acted more like a mother figure than a sister to Vickey and Alice, as Maggie run the household and replaced the mother they longed for. She also acted mature and was not into courting and romance, but business and achievement. However the kind loving side came through when she arranged and planned the marriage settlements. As a wife Maggie was conveyed to be a very loyal, loving, supportive and determined partner. She always believed and stuck up for Will when others put him down, knowing he would make a name for himself. Maggie being a lady of the nineteenth century had a very different personal desires and aspirations than most women of that era. She fought for what she believed in and did not settle for being a housewife. Due to her strong character Maggie could have been viewed to be a bit of a rebel for her time, but she also has a delicate nature to her. She rebels against society; in the strict diversions and ideas, but deep down she holds sentimental values on love and life. Overall I believe Maggie to be a strong, determined yet loyal women, ahead of people of time in terms of beliefs and equality.
In contrast to Maggie, Hobson achieves different audience response. Hobson is mostly to blame for his gradual decline in his fortunes. His stubborn and obnoxious attitude drove his daughters away and his neglect for his shop ruined the business when Maggie left. In addition Hobson’s values, for example men superior to women and strong class systems are societies fault. This was the way most people thought and acted. The daughters left him and his health declined more on the account he had no one to look after him, but the daughters were pushed away. He became very depressed and the level of alcohol consumption increased. Therefore the daughters were not really at fault, but were a minor a factor. Will Mossop took most of Hobson’s business when Maggie and him left to better them selves. This meant Hobson lost money and focused more on drink. There were other aspects to consider when analysing Hobson’s downfall such as alcohol. His alcohol problem also made his behaviour alter and offend people, this was mainly his fault but society and way of life could have been important aspects to consider. Many people lost the battle to alcohol in Victorian times.
