On The Black Hill
Divisions of class, gender and race run through the story On The Black Hill. How does Chatwin present these ideas and what does he say about them?
Through the novel On The Black Hill, Bruce Chatwin is able to inadvertably present various issues which divided society. Such divisions of class, gender and race are presented through the text and allow us to interpret the significance of such topics. The subject of class is used in description of a group of people of the same social standing. Gender is in reference to the masculine and feminine traits we display and race is concerned with the nationality and geographic distribution of those concerned. Through actions, attitudes, emotions and words, Chatwin uses the characters as a medium to present his ideas on these three topics. On The Black Hill takes place in the early 20th Century and provides a useful comparison of society’s attitudes and stereotypes of the 1900’s, with those of today.
Class is presented through the comparison of varying social standings of the characters in On The Black Hill. Generally, ones class is determined through behaviour, possessions, education, food and other such things. We are able to see such divisions of class through much the same way within the novel. One early instance concerning division of class is presented when Amos visits Mary, bearing the gift of a plucked chicken. “He pulled the chicken from his knapsack. She saw the cold pimply flesh. The smile fell from her face, and she stood rooted to the doorstep, shuddering.” (III, pp. 21) Mary’s reaction is one of horror and in no appreciation for the chicken. Perhaps this is because it reminds her of her father’s recent death, or perhaps it is due to the shock of a gift, one of a higher class would not normally receive. Through references to Mary’s travelling as in: “We went all over the Holy Land on our way back from India.” (III, pp. 23) and the higher social standing of Mary’s father, Reverend Latimer, we learn Mary’s of a higher class then Amos. Amos’ gift of a practical, plucked chicken illustrates his lower class as a farmer and worker and hence we see division between these characters because of their different classes. This is again evident when Mary “experimented with a mild Indian curry. He took one mouthful and spat it out. ‘I want none of your filthy Indian food!’ (VI, pp. 35) Again, this shows the divisions of class between the two characters. Amos’ reaction to the Indian curry shows his feelings of resentment towards Mary being more cultured and of a higher social stature than himself. Amos again shows feelings of resentment when Mary saves the farm. “It had been her connections that got them the lease / it was her class and her clever, clever letter that had saved all that he, Amos Jones – man, farmer, Welshman – had worked for, saved for, ruined his health for – and now did not want!” (XXVIII, pp. 147) Because of Mary’s higher class and through her connections, it is her that is able to save the farm instead of Amos. In turn, Amos feels inferior and incapable because he isn’t as cultured, educated and have the connections his wife has to save the farm. Class is connected with power, and by Mary being of a higher-class than Amos results in his feelings of inferiority and being threatened of his power. Through these examples we are able to see how Chatwin has presented divisions of class within their society. He shows us that along with class comes power, and those with higher class prove to be more powerful than those of lower class. As a result, Chatwin presents the idea that people feel inferior to those of a higher social standing to them. The resentment between different classes is also heightened by the division of genders, which is also presented within the novel.
