Class Consciousness: A Literary Analysis

Class consciousness – or a lack thereof when it comes to an understanding for the poor and working class – is an underlying theme of Antebellum writings about New York City. Class consciousness is commonly defined as an awareness of one’s place in a social system in relation to class struggle. Additionally, this awareness means that you are also aware of the other classes of which you are not a part. The absence of class consciousness can lead to great disparities between the living conditions and wellbeing of member of society. George Lippard’s The Empire City and William Dean Howells’ A Hazard of New Fortune are both examples of this concept. Both novels center around characters removed from the torments of poverty, with brief glimpses into the struggles of lower class life, and inevitably ignore or falsely “understand” an entire class – showing readers how ridiculous it is, to try and pretend that you are not connected to the poor. George Lippard’s The Empire City, in particular, “Part Four: The Life of Nameless,” begins to talk about the battles of poverty but quickly veers
“Part Four: The Life of Nameless,” reflects on the life of Gulian Van Huyden Jr. before he discovers his identity. From the ages of nine to twelve, Gulian – after the death of his pseudo father John Hoffman – is forced to live on the streets. This is one of the only instances in which street life and poverty are focused on in The Empire City and it is very brief. Part IV begins with Gulian, or Nameless as he is referred to in the title, saying in his mesmeric state, “I will not picture the years of hardship which I suffered in this great city” (Lippard, 161). Lippard deliberately skips these years, which would offer a glimpse into the life of the poor, instead focusing on the years Nameless is renamed Carl Raphael and living with the artist Cornelius