Underclass and Its Representation In the Novel Trainspotting

Palacký University

Faculty of Philosophy

English Philology

Underclass and Its Representation In the Novel Trainspotting

KAA/SK00

Ondřej Andrle

11th May 2014

The attempt of this essay is to delve into the circumstances which led to creating the novel. In particular, I will take a look into the political and social issues of the Great Britain during the 80's era. The social reality of the working class has become one of the main issues of the roaring debates in Britain under the Conservative Government at the end of the 80's. Many have argued about the emergence of a new class, characterised by people who suddenly find themselves as outcasts of the society. It is still a part of an unresolved question how this constantly growing group of impoverished people could be easily identified and what the features of this group should be. The theme of this so-called underclass was popularised by Trainspotting, as well as other groups.

53 rocks

Film poster for Trainspotting (film) - Copyright 1...

Former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher

This particular novel deals with irresponsible and careless drug addicts and became a cult for the British youth. Trainspotting focuses on the portrayal of youth underclass as a specific subculture and social exclusion as a matter of free will. Although the concept of underclass is rather problematic, there is enough evidence to suggest the existence of a certain marginalized social class that shares several characteristics. In underclass books, the rise of underclass is accompanied by the loss of working class traditions and values, which is the result of changes in the labour market. In the last few decades, as the gap between the economically well off and the most disadvantaged widened, the questions surrounding all different forms of inequality have taken up central stage in social, political and economical spheres. The main concerns are the possible causes of poverty and the ways it...