With the continuous growth in Ireland and greater integration into Europe this statement definitely rings through today. The current generation of young Irish no doubt look back to past decades, with perhaps a since of amusement and bewilderment at old Ireland and how she was.
One of the key political messages in the book, (which does contain some bit of irony which I will later talk about) is to combat English prejudice against the Irish and to create an understanding between the two peoples. Brian Hollingworth in his book “Marie Edgeworths, Irish Writings” says she uses two separate and contradictory strategies.” Firstly, in her narrative, she allows the English their customary laughter at Irish behaviour, but then she emphasises that such behaviour is now an anachronism. So the English grow more tolerant of the Irish and view the Union positively...Secondly, by the tropes and by the allusions which she employs, she identifies the social problems which exist in Ireland and the difficulties which face the Union.” 2 (1997 pg75) Concerning her first tactic, a peculiarity which leaps from the title page is her emphasis that events described in Castle Rackrent predate 1782”An Hibernian Tale, Taken from the facts, and from the manners of the Irish squires, before the year 1782” Brian Hollingworth concludes that a political message, both private and public is intimated here.1782 coincides with the beginnings of the Grattanite period and the slender years of political self confidence.
However I think its Edgeworths display of social degeneration though various mannerisms of the Rackrent family themselves and also the use of the Castle Rackrent as a simile. This can be seen throughout the whole novel, the jovial disposition of the Rackrent family can be seen as condescending to the native Irish at times, on PG19 Sir Kit casually throws Thady a guinea, money to him was no more than dirt, this would be in stark contrast to the native Irish. Another relevant factor is the incessant carelessness and apathy to the Castle Rackrent and its business interest by several generations of the Rackrent family. The Rackrents are famous for their parties and their exuberant spending, this fickleness, however costs them everything. The irony been is that Thadys son Jason ends up buying the Castle and its lands. Jason a proper native Irish, through hard work ends up acquiring the castle through Sir Condys carelessness. This could be seen as warning to the ruling classes of Ireland, that if this continuous mistreatment of the Irish continues, then the Irish could rise up. We know this period was very unstable with many uprisings because of land ownership.
Another example of politic unstableness can be seen through the Castle itself. The Castle at the start seems to be a place of great entertainment and joy. The castle begins large, it then falls into ruins and diminishes in size, this in stark contrast to the earlier part of the story when carriages come “thundering up to the great hall door” and “improvements are being made to the house”. After Sir Condrys marriage to a spendthrift wife, and his corrupt election to parliament, however, the house deteriorates rapidly.” There was then a great silence in Castle Rackrent, and I went moping from room to room, hearing the door clap for want of right locks, and the wind through the broken windows that the glazier never would come to mend, and the rain coming through the roof and the best ceilings all over the house for want of the Slater whose bills were not paid.” It is clear that through political corruptness and mismanagement that thing between the Irish and the English ascendancy cannot continue on. Mistreatment of the Irish has led to deterioration of not only the Irish themselves but also the English world.
Marriage is also used in the novel to describe the political divisions in Ireland. The Rackrent males are dominating and abusive of theirs wives, especially in the sense of possessions and wealth. The best example of this is Sir Kit who marries a wealthy Jewish heiress in order to get his hands on her money. The scenes where she is shut away in the castle, are actually quite amusing, with Sir Kit condescending her at every turn, answering every question with “yes sir”. Perhaps the funniest incident in the film is, when Sir Kit demands bacon every morning for breakfast. After five years of this treatment she looks to be dying. During this time she has been wearing a valuable cross, which Sir Kit has been trying to get his hands on. The irony of the situation is that she recovers and Sir Kit dies.” Directly she bursts into tears, and pulling her cross from her bosom, she kissed it with as great devotion as ever I witnessed, and lifting her eyes to heaven uttered some ejaculation,”. Sir Condys also marries a girl of vast wealth, although not as a calculated as his predecessor (He flips a coin) he still forfeits true love, which also ends in disaster. These acts of Union all end in failure and can be seen as a metaphor for the Union of Ireland and Great Britain, which also ends in failure. Marriage is meant to be a holy alliance, yet if the reason behind marriage is wrong, then it is an act against God. Ireland and Britain were never meant to be, it was a sin against God
The moral of Castle Rackrent is ultimately incompatibility and ruin for all concerned.
