by Beth Gaboury

Created on: July 10, 2011   Last Updated: July 11, 2011

For my critical essay, I will be analyzing the perspectives of Matthew Bramble, and his niece Lydia Melford from the novel “Humphry Clinker” by Tobias Smollett, of London life. Because their opinions are drastically different from one another, Matthew being extraordinarily critical and negative about London, whereas Lydia is joyous and celebratory of London, I will include some compare and contrast between their perspectives.

The traveling family, consisting of Matthew and Tabitha Bramble, Jerry and Lydia Melford, their hired servant Humphry Clinker, and the dog Chowder, arrive in London in late May. The first letter written by Matthew Bramble is dated May 29th, in which he corresponds with his friend Dr. Lewis, and talks about his first impressions of and experiences in London. Matthew’s initial shock at the new situation of London is credible, since we know from historical references such as Peter Borsay’s “The Culture of Improvement” that England was undergoing extensions, and there was an appearance of a “rash of squares in the West End of London” (188). These new buildings were part of a remodeling project, founded by “urban improvement commissions” to “implement schemes of street paving, widening, cleansing, and lighting” (188). Matthew notes in the opening paragraph of his letter that he has shifted from the part of England that is strewn with “open fields” and has transitioned into one “covered with streets, and squares, and palaces, and churches” (82). He does admit that credit must be given for better paving and lighting, and that the streets are now “spacious, regular, and airy; and the houses generally convenient” (82). However, he continues on to his pessimistic outlook, critically saying, “the capital is become an overgrown monster” (82).

Matthew is particularly perturbed by the lack of class distinction that has spread throughout London; “every trader in any degree of credit, every broker and attorney, maintains a couple of footmen, a coachman, and postilion” (83). He goes on to ridicule the wives and daughters with their frills and fancies, the rich entertainments held within personal homes, and ludicrous amounts of money being spent at taverns by mere tradesmen, and clerks, apprentices and waiters acting as though they were a “petit maitre” (84). Matthew puts it quite bluntly in paragraph five: “In

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