Parade's End

Like many modernist novels, Parade’s End centers around the great changes taking place in the early 20th century. The primary changes discussed in the novel are political turbulence, class reform, decaying morality, and industrial change. In the opening pages, the narrator, through Macmaster’s perspective, relates how “[t]heir class administered the world” (3). The relationship between Christopher Tietjens and Vincent Macmaster is analogous of the changing of the guard in British politics and society; these changes are illustrated through Christopher’s character.

It is curious that Macmaster refers to it as “their class,” because he and Christopher are from two very different classes. Christopher is from the landed gentry, belonging to an old and wealthy family, whereas Macmaster is from a working-class Scottish family. That one is English and the other Scottish is itself a different class, as the English tended to view themselves as the superior race in Britain. This superiority is illustrated through Christopher’s bigotry and his narrow definition of what constitutes “English.” Furthermore, Macmaster remarks about the differences in societal deference made to Christopher, who could get away with certain behaviors he cannot—for example, in appearance. Christopher can look like a chimney sweep because he is of a higher class, whereas Macmaster must always look immaculate in public.