Social Injustice In Sir William Ashton And The Marquis Of A

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Edgar could be considered to be a vicitim of social injustice with respect to his relations with three leading characters of the novel - William Ashton, Lucy Ashton and the Marquis of A. Among them, Sir William Ashton and the Marquis of A are both political opportunists. Though Ashton is a Whig and Marquis is a Tory,
“… they have in common a cynical tendency to adjust ideological principles to the prevailing political winds that documents,within the historical assumptions of the novel, the assault on factionalism. 15
The Marquis takes a keen interest in Edgar’s quarrel with the Ashtons over the Ravenswood estate in order to gain political support from Sir William Ashton. Sir William, on the other hand tries to be friendly with Edgar so that he can extricate political benefit in case the Marquis and his fellow Tories win their struggle for power. Edgar also enters a political partnership with the Marquis thinking that he would be able to offer Lucy something better than a life of poverty and an outcast lord. His fortune takes a good turn when the Tories, guided by the Marquis come to power. Although Edgar does not get involved in party politics like Ashton or the Marquis, yet he becomes intricately involved in their nasty world of political scheming.
Throughout the novel, it appears that Edgar is …show more content…

This is evident when Edgar, visiting Ravenswood castle, asks Sir William what he has done with the relics and memorials of the Ravenswood’s former greatness, Sir William shows apathy and ignorance towards such apolitical question. As regards Marquis, he is no better than Sir William Ashton. His apparent concern for Edgar springs from his self-interest and his Jacobitism. Scott has revealed the selfishness, cunningness and apathy of politicians who are capable of inducing a great harm to others to derive a little benefit from