• Latest

Why I Love Downton Abbey

August 5, 2013

Vermont State Labor Council, AFL-CIO Hires First Female Executive Director, Signaling New Direction for VT Labor Movement

January 12, 2021

Vermont Mutual Distributes $1,000,000 to COVID-19 Relief Efforts

January 12, 2021
Hunters Take 6,136 Turkeys in Vermont in 2020

Hunters Take 6,136 Turkeys in Vermont in 2020

January 12, 2021
Additional Ounce, Priority Mail and Postcard Stamps Available Jan. 24

Additional Ounce, Priority Mail and Postcard Stamps Available Jan. 24

January 12, 2021
One Credit Union Donates $12K to Make-A-Wish

One Credit Union Donates $12K to Make-A-Wish

January 12, 2021

Unemployment Benefits Extended with Authorization of Federal Relief Bill

January 5, 2021
A Treasured Forest Will Be Open to All – Cambridge Establishes The Peter A. Krusch Nature Preserve

A Treasured Forest Will Be Open to All – Cambridge Establishes The Peter A. Krusch Nature Preserve

January 5, 2021
Just Some Thoughts

Here We Are Again, Already

January 5, 2021
Downton Abbey

Chinatown (1974)

January 5, 2021
Mayor’s Report – September 2019

Mayor’s Report – December 2020

January 5, 2021
MSCVT Kindergartners Deliver Donations to Local Foodbank

MSCVT Kindergartners Deliver Donations to Local Foodbank

December 29, 2020
Petals of Compassion

Petals of Compassion

December 29, 2020
  • Home
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy
  • Sitemap
Tuesday, January 19, 2021
The World Online
  • Home
  • News & Features
    • Local News
    • Letters & opinions
    • George Shuman
    • Max’s View
    • Local Sports & Outdoors
    • Births
    • Weddings & Engagements
  • Calendar
    • Art Exhibits
    • Calendar of Events
    • Ongoing Events
  • Obituaries
  • Submit
    • Submit Calendar Listing
    • Submit An Article To The World
    • Submit Letter To The Editor
    • Submit Sports News/Photo
    • Submit Birth Announcement
    • Submit Engagement Announcement
    • Submit Wedding Announcement
  • Advertising
    • World Rates and Ad Sizes
    • World Distribution Map
    • World Deadlines
    • Audit and Reader Surveys
    • Advertising Inquiry
  • Classifieds
    • Place Classified Ads
    • View Current Classifieds
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News & Features
    • Local News
    • Letters & opinions
    • George Shuman
    • Max’s View
    • Local Sports & Outdoors
    • Births
    • Weddings & Engagements
  • Calendar
    • Art Exhibits
    • Calendar of Events
    • Ongoing Events
  • Obituaries
  • Submit
    • Submit Calendar Listing
    • Submit An Article To The World
    • Submit Letter To The Editor
    • Submit Sports News/Photo
    • Submit Birth Announcement
    • Submit Engagement Announcement
    • Submit Wedding Announcement
  • Advertising
    • World Rates and Ad Sizes
    • World Distribution Map
    • World Deadlines
    • Audit and Reader Surveys
    • Advertising Inquiry
  • Classifieds
    • Place Classified Ads
    • View Current Classifieds
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
The World Online
No Result
View All Result

Why I Love Downton Abbey

vt-world by vt-world
August 5, 2013
in Local News
0

From the very beginning, Americans decided that we are not going to have noblemen like the British.

We decided that if somebody is to be admired or respected, it is because he has done something great; not because he has a fancy old title in front of his name.

240 years later, there aren’t many major divides between the US and the UK. After fighting a bitter war against King George III, we seem to be perfectly willing to embrace the baby who will ultimately become King George VII.

But we still have total disdain for the concept of nobility.

Two of the people I admire most in Central Vermont are Gary Hass and Deborah Phillips, the owners of this newspaper.

However, if they suddenly claimed to be noblemen, my respect for them would drop, not increase. If they suddenly declared themselves to be the Earl of East Montpelier and the Baroness of Berlin and asked people to refer to them as Lord and Lady, nobody would do it.

Of course, Mr. Hass and Mrs. Phillips would never do that. It’s completely absurd, right?

The wonderful PBS series “Downton Abbey” takes us to a time and place when this wasn’t absurd at all; it was a way of life.

The show takes place 100 years ago in a small town in rural England. The most wealthy and prominent citizen of the town is Lord Robert Crawley, proprietor of Downton Abbey. Downton Abbey is a sprawling, majestic mansion. It’s a tangible reminder of the days when Crawley’s ancestors ruled the county with an iron fist and the ancestors of the villagers bowed before them in fear.

The story begins when the rightful heir to Downton Abbey dies aboard the Titanic. And it turns out that the next in line to inherit is a distant cousin. Not only has no one ever met him, but he isn’t even a nobleman; he’s a middle class lawyer from Manchester.

The most logical choice to inherit Downton is eldest daughter, Mary. But in the early 20th Century, women still had no inheritance rights. So unless she marries someone rich, Mary – and her two younger sisters – run the risk of losing everything and going from riches to rags.

The show takes place at the dawn of the feminist movement and “Downton Abbey” explores the three very different points of view of the Crawley sisters.

Lady Edith wants nothing more than to find a husband, any husband. Lady Sybil wants nothing more than to become a political activist in the burgeoning Progressive movement. And Lady Mary doesn’t know what she wants, but she knows darn well that she’s not going to let a man tell her.

Since it takes place at a Lord’s estate, “Downton Abbey” can’t help but weigh in on the issue of class in England. And, surprisingly, the show looks back fondly to the days when titles meant something.

Show creator/writer Julian Fellowes makes a subtle argument that the servants at Downton aren’t victims of the caste system – they are eager participants.

Not only does Downton Abbey give the maids and butlers a decent job and an amazing place to live, it gives their lives meaning and purpose.

Perhaps a healthy respect for our social betters isn’t such a bad thing after all. That being said, I’d like to give humble thanks to the Earl of East Montpelier and the Baroness of Berlin for letting me publish this col-umn in their wonderful newspaper.

Previous Post

Younger men may be at high risk for throat cancer

Next Post

Reiss's Pieces

Next Post

Reiss's Pieces

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This Week’s Ads

  • Home
  • About Us
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy
  • Sitemap
The World
403 US Route 302
Barre, VT 05641
Phone: (802) 479-2582

Copyright © 2019 The World Online. All Rights Reserved. Powered by CoolerAds.

No Result
View All Result
  • Art Exhibits
  • Audit and Reader Surveys
  • Births
  • Calendar
  • Contact Us
  • Daily Horoscope
  • Fall Dining Guide
  • Food & Recipe
  • Home
  • Obituaries
  • Ongoing Events
  • Pay Your Bill Here
  • Senior Living Edition
  • Showtimes
  • Submit Birth Announcement
  • Submit Calendar Listing
  • Submit Engagement Announcement
  • Submit Listing to our Local Directory
  • Submit Sports News/Photo
  • Submit Wedding Announcement
  • Testimonials
  • The World Coupons
  • Weather Forecast
  • World Deadlines
  • World Distribution Map
  • World Rate Card
  • World Rates and Ad Sizes
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy
  • Sitemap
  • About Us
  • Vermont Lottery
  • Advertising Information
  • The World Staff
  • Advertising Inquiry
  • Submit Letter To The Editor
  • Local Directory
  • Poll Results
  • Local Deals
  • Classifieds
  • Submit An Article To The World
  • Events
  • The World – This Week’s Online Digital Edition
  • The World Auto & Sports

Copyright © 2019 The World Online. All Rights Reserved. Powered by CoolerAds.

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Fill the forms bellow to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In