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in Social Classes and on Titanic
HISTORICAL CONTEXT:
DIVISIONS IN SOCIAL CLASSES AND ONTITANIC
The dividing of the passengers of Titanic into various levels or classes was indicative of the social divisions of the time, especially in British society. For most of its history, Great Britain (as well as many other monarchies), lived in a world of strict social classes based on title and land holdings. Throughout the history of Great Britain, the landed aristocracy received privileges, wealth, and social status based on name and title alone.
As the Industrial Revolution brought new means of wealth to not only Great Britain, but many countries in the world, the structure of the social hierarchy shifted slightly. Now, one did not always need a title or generational wealth to achieve greatness, but they didn’t hurt. Industrialization led to more wealth for businessmen and entrepreneurs, and changed the long-standing aristocratic stranglehold on power. While most of the wealthiest were still people who had some sort of family wealth or status on top of their own earnings, the clout was less tied to aristocratic titles. There was still a definite division between those with generational wealth and those with “new money,” with the latter being seen as less than. While the United States had abandoned the landed aristocracy with its departure from England and its establishment as a democracy, there was a distinct class system in place largely due to industrialization. While businesspeople such as J.P. Morgan were gaining immense amounts of wealth, an emerging middle class was gaining some power, while the lower classes still struggled, but in new ways.
This distinct line between social classes can be seen in Titanic with the divisions between the passengers. While the ship was lauded as the most luxurious, opulent, and well-fitted of its time, those extravagances were only for the wealthiest passengers, with less luxurious accommodations for the other classes. While the amenities and accommodations show the division, perhaps it is greatest when looking at Titanic’s tragic end. Historians speculate that those in Third Class were not notified early of the accident, were not allowed above deck until much later than other passengers, and were deprioritized over the wealthier passengers when boarding the lifeboats. Historical analysis of numbers of deaths based on class is a hotly debated topic among Titanic researchers.
