Meaning of “The Great Unwashed”
The term “The Great Unwashed” is a colloquialism, which is used to describe the masses especially those of the lower classes. The phrase carries derogatory tone and associated with low class, ignorance, and backwardness of the people. It’s mainly employed by those in authority or those who are in the superior position in society as a way of categorizing the rest of the society who are deemed to be inferior.
Here the word “unwashed” has been used metaphorically to mean “uncultured”, “uncivilized”, and “immoral”, not in the literal sense of being dirty. This, therefore, explains why the term “The Great Unwashed” is employed to express a feeling of elitism since the speaker is in a better position to judge the undesirables.
For example, a politician who uses the term “The Great Unwashed” to refer to the public is in a way showing disdain for the views, preferences or behaviours of the populace as compared to the elites. It can also be used to refer to the masses of people within a community and especially when making reference to their preferences, tastes or opinions which are deemed vulgar.
Origin of “The Great Unwashed”
The term “the great unwashed” is a slang term that was used in late 18th or early 19th century Britain to refer to the working class and the masses. It depicted the clear class differences of the time when only the affluent could afford to bathe and get their clothes laundered while the rest of the population lived in unsanitary conditions without such amenities.
The term was first recorded in the 1830s in Edward Bulwer-Lytton’s novel Paul Clifford, where the character is described as, “unwashed and unshaved, and his looks are timid and fierce.” The phrase became more popular in the 1800s especially among the educated urban populace to describe the uncouth manners of the working class.
To the upper class of society, “the great unwashed” referred to the working class, urban poor and the masses with poor manners, no education, and no personal hygiene. It expressed both the aristocracy and bourgeoisie’s disdain and fear of the common people.
William Thackeray employed the term in the mid of 19th century, especially in works like Pendennis in a satirical manner, making the term popular and an indication of the different classes of people’s attitudes towards public hygiene.
Today, it has become a rather pejorative term used to refer to the masses or the common man in a rather condescension manner and it is still in line with its initial meaning of the aristocratic attitude towards the working class.
Use of “The Great Unwashed” in Literature
The term “The Great Unwashed” has been incorporated in literature to portray various class divisions, social status and powers relations.
Some of the writers used the phrase to express their disapproval of the upper class, to describe the realities of working class people and to portray social and political concerns of the society. In the literary context, “The Great Unwashed” has been employed in the following situations and their importance identified:
Example#1
“Hard Times” by Charles Dickens
The novel was published in 1854. It demonstrates the cruel realities of the life in industrial town of England during Victorian period. Many of the characters in the novel go through the suffering of the strict utilitarianism of the epoch and dehumanizing consequences of the industrialization.
“The factory workers, those faceless cogs in the grand machine, were often dismissed by the likes of Bounderby as nothing more than ‘The Great Unwashed,’ their sweat and toil rendered invisible by the distance of privilege.”
Dicken’s use of this particular term in the story describes the Bounderby, the owner of numerous factories, who demonstrates his hatred of the working people employed in his businesses. Through the use of this phrase, the writer brings out the social estrangement between the lords of industry and labor and how the former tends to disregard the worth of the latter. The use of the phrase also indicates the social injustice and unfair treatment with the working class.
Example#2
“The Caxtons: A Family Picture” by Edward Bulwer-Lytton (1849)
The phrase “the great unwashed” is generally credited to Edward Bulwer-Lytton, a British novelist, playwright, and politician. It appears in his 1849 novel “The Caxtons: This is the usage of the word which is considered to be one of the first usages of this term in literature and is called “A Family Picture”.
“He is a man of splendid abilities but utterly corrupt. He shines and stinks like rotten mackerel by moonlight. He is one of the people of whom it is well said, ‘they are so made that they can persuade the great unwashed that black is white and white is black.’”
In this context, the author of the novel, Bulwer-Lytton, uses the phrase “the great unwashed” as a title for the common people who are portrayed as gullible beings or simply people who can be easily influenced by anyone who knows how to influence them, whether the message is true or false.
Example#3
“Scoop” by Evelyn Waugh (1938)
The phrase is employed in the title of the third chapter of Evelyn Waugh’s satirical novel Scoop, published in 1938, which lampoons the British press’s excesses and ignorance. In the novel the phrase “the great unwashed” helps highlight the way in which some characters feel superior to the masses.
“You don’t think that I can write, do you, Mrs. Stitch? Well, I can assure you I can. It’s quite simple. You just write down everything that happens, absolutely everything, to the great unwashed.”
In this example the phrase is used to talk about the common people in an insulting way which makes it show a feeling of arrogance.
Example#4
“Little Dorrit” by Charles Dickens (1857)
In the novel “Little Dorrit” written by Charles Dickens, the author makes use of the term in order to express hatred from some characters towards the lower stratum of society. The novel which tends to raise issues of social injustice and the British ruling’s class prejudice portrays the upper class looking down on the lower class.
“We shall have the great unwashed down our throats in no time,” said Mrs. General.
This example demonstrates the upper-class woman’s actual and moral distain of the lower class which she sees as an explosive and dangerous entity.
See also: The More The Merrier
Use of “The Great Unwashed” in Modern Contexts
The use of the phrase “The Great Unwashed” is less common today. It is a strong example of class division and social criticism to this day. It is still used to his in various ways to condemn social status and as a way of people’s attitude towards the lower classes.
1- In Media and Commentary
In today’s media and discussion, people use “The Great Unwashed” to describe or comment on class difference or social prejudice. It is also used in articles, essays, or discussions related to social inequality, mainly to emphasize the attitude of superiority that elites have towards the less fortunate.
2- In Popular Culture
In popular culture, “The Great Unwashed” might be depicted in works of art that deal with matters of class stratification, power, and the interaction of different classes. It can be used to put into context the story that is being told especially in times of social transformations or historic changes.
3- In Everyday Conversation
Even though “The Great Unwashed” is less frequently used in daily conversations today, it can still be encountered in discussions about social issues or class relations. It may be employed to comment on or decode the behaviour of specific groups toward the rest of society, or to pinpoint forms of discrimination that remain active in today’s world.
See also: Dead Ringer
Example Sentences of “The Great Unwashed”
- The celebrity tried to sneak out the back entrance of the hotel to avoid the crowds of the great unwashed gathered outside.
- The professor scoffed at the idea of making his research understandable to the great unwashed and not just fellow academics.
- The exclusive club was designed as a respite for wealthy gentlemen from having to encounter the great unwashed on the streets.
- The earnest politician vowed to represent the interests of the great unwashed and not just corporations and the elite.
- The royal entourage traveled by private train to avoid mingling with the great unwashed during the queen’s tour of the country.
- The theater critics turned up their noses at shows catering to the great unwashed instead of sophisticated intellectual audiences.
- The celebrity chef was aghast at the idea of dumbing down his avant-garde recipes for the great unwashed palates of the masses.
- The extravagant gala was by invitation only to carefully curate the guest list away from the great unwashed nouveau riche.
- The longtime members objected to the club’s policy changes to open admissions to the great unwashed wannabes flooding the area.
- The cutting-edge artist refused to explain the meaning behind her abstractions, caring only about the opinions of fellow elites, not the great unwashed public.
