English Character in the Twentieth Century

Abstract

The major divisions of English society by social class and geographical regions are outlined. Historical evi dence suggests that the typical character of the middle classes has been modified relatively little in the last two centuries, but that the typical character of the urban working classes has had two major modifications: in the middle of the nineteenth cen tury when the invention of the nationwide, unarmed, self-con trolled police forces presented a new model for the ideal char acter ; and again since 1945 when, for the first time in recent history, nearly all working-class children have been adequately nourished. The typical handling of three basic drives—ag— gression, sex, hunger—is examined and the implications for national character explored; and some suggestions are made of the way the changed character of the new generation of the English working classes may modify the national character when this new generation becomes statistically and electorally dominant.