Die Gesellschaft der Bundesrepublik hat sich seit dem 2. Weltkrieg stark verändert. Die damals bestehenden traditionellen Bindungen gelten heute weniger, gesellschaftliche Institutionen wie Parteien und Kirche verlieren immer mehr an Einfluss. Die Gesellschaft individualisiert sich immer weiter und stellt damit das politische System vor andere Bedingungen. Doch wie sehen diese Bedingungen genau aus? Kann die Vermittlung von Politik heute noch genauso vor sich gehen wie vor 20 Jahren oder muss das politische System heute im Bereich der Kommunikation neue Wege gehen? Und inwieweit ist dies mit den Rahmenbedingungen der politischen Vermittlung, welche im Grundgesetz verankert sind, vereinbar? Stellt die veränderte Situation vielleicht sogar eine Gefahr für die Demokratie dar?
Diesen Fragen wird in dieser Hausarbeit nachgegangen. Um Antworten auf diese Fragen zu finden wird zunächst dargelegt, wie der Gesetzgeber die Rolle der politischen Vermittlung durch die Parteien vorgesehen hat. Danach wird der Frage nachgegangen, inwiefern sich die deutsche Gesellschaft verändert, um daraufhin das Mediensystem zu analysieren. Hinsichtlich des Mediensystem wird der Schwerpunkt auf die Einführung des Privatfernsehens und dessen Auswirkungen gelegt und inwiefern man hier von einer „Macht der Medien“ sprechen kann.
Danach wird betrachtet, inwieweit das politische System auf die neuen Bedingungen in den anderen Teilsystemen reagiert. Was sind die Antworten der politischen Parteien auf die Trends in ihrem Umfeld? Was hat es auf sich mit neuen Techniken des Politmarketings? Gibt es hier Rückkopplungen auf das inhaltliche Programm der Parteien? Dies führt dann gleich zu der weiterführenden Frage inwieweit sich Chancen und Risiken aus den neuen Techniken und Bedingungen der politischen Kommunikation für das demokratische System ergeben.
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Brief Outline of the Historic Background
- The Decline of John Barton
- Exterior Causes
- Interior Causes
- Gaskell's Solution to the Social Question
- Conclusion
Objectives and Key Themes
This analysis of Elizabeth Gaskell's Mary Barton focuses on its socio-political commentary rather than its aesthetic merits. The objective is to explore how the novel reflects the Victorian "Social Question"—the disparities between the working and upper classes—and Gaskell's proposed solutions.
- The plight of the working class in 19th-century Manchester
- The impact of the Industrial Revolution on social structures
- Gaskell's critique of social inequality and its consequences
- The role of religion and morality in addressing social problems
- The limitations of individual agency in the face of systemic issues
Chapter Summaries
Introduction: This introductory section establishes the context of Elizabeth Gaskell's Mary Barton, highlighting its popularity despite Gaskell's relatively lesser-known status compared to contemporaries like Dickens and Brontë. The analysis prioritizes the novel's social commentary over its stylistic aspects, framing it as a contribution to the ongoing 19th-century discourse on the "Social Question"—the problems arising from the working class's disadvantaged position. It introduces the dual plots centered around John and Mary Barton, emphasizing the author's primary focus on John's story to showcase her perspective on societal issues and the narrative compromise made for wider readership acceptance. The introduction also foreshadows the focus on John Barton's character development and his descent due to the hardships created by the stark inequality prevalent in Victorian society.
Brief Outline of the Historic Background: This section provides historical context for Mary Barton, depicting 19th-century Britain as a nation of extreme social contrasts. While economically dominant, it was marred by immense disparities between the wealthy factory owners and the impoverished working class, particularly during the economic downturn of the 1840s. The rise of Chartism, a movement demanding universal male suffrage, is discussed as a direct response to these conditions. Gaskell's personal experiences in Manchester, where she lived amongst and taught the working class, are highlighted, emphasizing the authenticity of her portrayal. The section contrasts the experiences of factory owners, largely unaffected by economic downturns, with the devastating consequences for workers, illustrated through examples like the death of Davenport due to poverty and poor sanitation. The section concludes by mentioning different approaches to addressing the "Social Question"—socialist and communist critiques of the system, liberal advocacy of free trade, and the Christian approach of charity and understanding, to which Gaskell subscribed.
Keywords
Elizabeth Gaskell, Mary Barton, Victorian social problems, Industrial Revolution, working class, social inequality, Chartism, Social Question, poverty, religion, morality, class conflict.
Mary Barton: A Socio-Political Analysis - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main focus of this analysis of Elizabeth Gaskell's Mary Barton?
This analysis prioritizes the socio-political commentary within Elizabeth Gaskell's Mary Barton, focusing on its reflection of the Victorian "Social Question" – the stark disparities between the working and upper classes – and Gaskell's proposed solutions. It downplays the novel's aesthetic merits in favor of a deep dive into its social commentary.
What are the key themes explored in the analysis?
The analysis explores several key themes, including the plight of the 19th-century Manchester working class, the impact of the Industrial Revolution on social structures, Gaskell's critique of social inequality and its consequences, the role of religion and morality in addressing social problems, and the limitations of individual agency in the face of systemic issues.
What is covered in the "Chapter Summaries" section?
The "Chapter Summaries" section provides a detailed overview of the content of each chapter. The introduction establishes the context of Mary Barton, highlighting its social commentary and introducing the dual plots (centered around John and Mary Barton). A summary of the historical background details the social contrasts of 19th-century Britain, the rise of Chartism, and Gaskell's personal experiences influencing her writing.
What is the historical context provided in the analysis?
The analysis provides historical context by depicting 19th-century Britain as a nation of extreme social contrasts, highlighting the immense disparities between the wealthy factory owners and the impoverished working class, especially during the economic downturn of the 1840s. The rise of Chartism and Gaskell's personal experiences in Manchester are emphasized to provide authenticity to her portrayal of the social issues.
What are the objectives of this analysis?
The primary objective is to explore how Mary Barton reflects the Victorian "Social Question" and to understand Gaskell's perspective on and proposed solutions to the social problems of her time. The analysis aims to dissect the novel's social commentary rather than its literary style.
What are the key words associated with this analysis?
Key words include: Elizabeth Gaskell, Mary Barton, Victorian social problems, Industrial Revolution, working class, social inequality, Chartism, Social Question, poverty, religion, morality, and class conflict.
What is the structure of the provided preview?
The preview offers a comprehensive overview of the analysis, including a table of contents, objectives and key themes, chapter summaries, and keywords. It provides a clear understanding of the scope and focus of the complete analysis.
What is the role of John Barton's story in the analysis?
John Barton's story is central to the analysis, showcasing Gaskell's perspective on societal issues and illustrating the narrative compromises she made to achieve a wider readership. His decline due to social inequality is a key element explored in the analysis.
What different approaches to addressing the "Social Question" are mentioned?
The analysis mentions socialist and communist critiques, liberal advocacy of free trade, and the Christian approach of charity and understanding (to which Gaskell subscribed) as different approaches to tackling the "Social Question" during the Victorian era.
- Quote paper
- Jan Dreßler (Author), 2003, Elizabeth Gaskell's Mary Barton and the Social Question, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/58183
