‘The way people of Eyam respond to the plague is just as disturbing and destructive as the impact of the plague itself.’ Discuss
how do people respond?
how is the plague destructive
abandon faith
hold on to hope
anna
elinor
mompellion
jane martine
cling to societal values
townspeople = attack one another, superstition
bradfords
still has challenges
reminisces about children
questions society + peaceful rebellion
uses knowledge for good
Anys
john gordon
how is it destructive?
destroys relationship between people
attacking anys
aphra attacking elinor and killing Child
manipulative and opportunistic values brought forth
Josiah 'of those too weak or ill to bury their dead he demanded a high fee'
colonel bradford + liz
left with haste - ironic in that it parallels religious values
did what anyone with means to do so would; 'safeguarding what is theirs'
Brooks highlights the disturbing characteristics of the plague albeit 'simply a thing in nature' which the townspeople have no control over
plague tokens = roses
Brings forth the 'ugly thoughts' and opportunistic values held by the townspeople since before the plague which are therefore more disturbing than the plague itself.
many of the women in eyam are able to rise above the institutionalised societal values and religious dogma that causes others to succumb to the destructive nature of the plague.
towns people = attack anys because of their reliance on religion and superstition = dependance
anna
bradfords
anys
elinor
'safeguarding what is mine'
'best physic against the plague is to run far from it'
Mompellion
learned and upper class, divine status allows him to convince villagers of his opinions and
left with haste = ironic negates religion
throughout brooks describes the ugly nature of the plague which takes its toll emotionally
loss of suffering
numbers of people who died
isolation
plague = less disturbing because there was no choice
Jane Martin
abandons religion when faith is in question
continual return to cucklet delf, miners tavern and rectory reinforces the constraints of the 'wide green prison' and the impact of Anna's knowledge of the wider world, proves a challenge for her yet she is still able to rise above this
long and exhausting death of george viccars
'sweet smell of apples' to the 'stench of rotting fish' how quickly the plague causes not the world they once knew to turn upside down. Their environment reflecting the rotting of morale that the plague ensues
'I used to love this season'
'emptying pews and missing faces' - emotional toll on the people in eyam
as key members of the society such as the sexton pass away as a result of the plague, the social order begins to erode leaving gaps for people to fill
takes a physical toll on people = mompellion is 'broken' and 'exhausted' by his need to fulfil every role and remain at the bedside of those dieing
creates an opportunity for people to respond in cruel or compassionate ways
despite being a woman of rank and learning grants Anna the gift and power of an education which is denied to so many women in 17th century society due to the institutionalised patriarchal values
along with this elinor chooses to 'mother those who weren't mothered enough in their own crowded crofts' transcending the social mores and barriers that restrict others from interacting with those raised upon a pedestal by the society
her capacity to ignore social barriers