Social Structure In Geraldine Brooks 'Year Of Wonders'

The social structure and institutions of the village of Eyam are severely challenged during the year of the plague. Discuss
The small town of Eyam was enveloped with the Bubonic plague in 1665-1666. In Geraldine Brooks’ historical fiction ‘Year Of Wonders’ relationships, beliefs values, laws and friendships are threatened in the village at every level, however not all outcomes are negative from the devastation of a collapsing town. The novel demonstrated that it Is possible for strong characters or even reserved characters to take initiative in a fundamental time, despite the collapsing of their society around them.

During the plague, villagers were torn between their faith in God and superstitious beliefs. The novels protagonist Anna
Frith faithfully follows Mompellion’s guidance after the plague strikes. However as misery upon misery pile up, she begins to question her faith. The struggle with death and darkness ultimately costs Anna her faith in God. In particular, her faith is lost when Maggie Cantwell dies. Overtime, her faith becomes tattered, and she is not sure what she believes in. The Novels leader, Michael Mompellion, the distraught and defeated young man closes his bible after he accuses god of being a “poor listener”. Brooks placement of the bible falling is symbolic of his personal fall from grace. “ His hand on the bible, but he never opens it, not anymore….The bible hit the floor with a dull thud.” Expand
Puritan beliefs fade, they begin to question the bible and god.- expand

Men were more superior then women in the 17th century. However, in years of wonders the voice of women is heard. Anna Frith was house wife, a mother of two and hungered to learn. Her voice was heard by Elinor Mompellion who taught her to read and right. Her knowledge lead her to studying medicine, which was however, not a typical women’s thing in the 17th Century. Essentially women were not the ones working. Nevertheless, during the plague year these women were. For example when Elinor and Anna go down to the mine to extract the lead. This is not a typical women job. Other characters such as Mem and Anys Gowdie, along with Elinor decided to use herbs to prevent illness. Brooks placement of the Gowdies as healers and midwifes and Elinor as a determined learner of herbs, symbolises that they undertook dangerous occupations which would typically be known as a mans job. Additionally, the voices of these women were valuable to the novel as it shows they rile against the patriarchal system, where women play a more dominant role. Anna’s reaction to her father’s death, symbolises that she displayed no sympathy towards him, after the way he treated her during childhood. "I could not speak for my father or rather would not". Ultimately, showing that Anna was more superior over her father in times of crisis.

The retreat of the Bradford family initiates the breakdown between the divisions between classes.
Mompellion delivers his most compelling speech; “let the boundaries of this village become our whole world. Let none enter and none leave while this plague lasts.”, Encouraging all the towns’ folk to stay until the plague passes. However, the Bradford’s, who were at the top of the social hierarchy decided to flee the town and break the social, divide. “And so, as it generally happens, those who have most give least. And those with less, give most…” Their cruel dismissal of their loyal staff shows that they thought they were ‘above’ the situation. This is a representation of the classes, where initially we are shown the height of the Bradford’s social class, juxtaposed with Anna at the lowest end of the system that had no choice, but to stay. The relationship between Elinor and Anna threatens the social fabric of Eyam as Anna was Elinor’s maid, who soon became her bestfriend and mother figure. “She was my friend and I loved her”. Their friendship challenged the social structure of Eyam at all levels by the division of classes coming together. The division displayed by the Bradford’s and the classes has had a huge effect on the village and is represented by the belief they all know share to stick together and work as a
whole

It is clear, the plague brings out the best in people by showing how a community depends on the values and expectations of a society. However, If these begin to unravel the social fabric of a community will be threatened and we will eventually witness the village and its people falling apart as faith is tested and this lack of underpinning effects all everything.