Patricians And The Plebs

“The Patricians and the Plebs” by E.P. Thompson in his book Customs and Commons, divides 18th century England into two distinct hierarchies of power that are both separate but similar, powerful yet powerless without one another. Thompson points to the idea that although both of the groups were seemingly separated, they had many similarities that allowed for them to live off one another. The Patricians, although they held all of the power, needed to take care of their relationship with their plebs to maintain their power. This dependent relationship allowed for plebs to begin to accumulate wealth as tradesmen and entrepreneurs, and gave rise to another hierarchy that Thompson does not acknowledge as power holders in their own right: the middle class. He argues that the middle class, although they desired to (and did in come cases) join the landed elite, they were kept at bay when the patricians refused to acknowledge their role in the socioeconomic system. Although Thompson argues that there was no true middle class in 18th century England, the wealthy but un-landed individuals
This interactive scene has all members of society enjoying one of the common theatrics of the day, together. Had this scene been predominately lower class plebs, the gentry seen behind the wife would not have come near. Conversely, when the theatrics of the House of Commons occurred, whig removal and speeches, one would not find a pleb in sight. Bridging the gap between the patricians and the plebs are the middlings, or middle class, people who could afford to emulate the patricians, but had social and political status more equitable to a pleb. The middlings social and political status began to change as social unrest became more and more common in 18th century