The funeral as an opportunity for social display, 1700-1820, with a specific focus on the West Country
The thesis examines eighteenth-century funerals as opportunities for social display. It analyses funerals in the region around the cities of Bath, Bristol and Salisbury, identified as the West Country. This is a prosperous and interesting region which has not been studied by existing literature on funerary consumption. The thesis demonstrates that funerals were intended to be respectable occasions, organised and performed by professionals and attended by the people with close social ties to the deceased. The funeral is presented as a display of status that used the goods and services of the developing undertaking trade. The thesis opens with an analysis of the professionals who organised and performed the funeral, the undertakers and clergy. The professionalsâ roles are outlined, and the perception of these roles is considered. Three different types of funeral are examined, showing how widely the funeral was used as an opportunity for social display. The intimate, âprivateâ funeral is presented as a celebration of personal achievement which was intended for the friends and family of the deceased. The funerals of the elite are presented as ostentatious occasions in which the display was tailored to the
O'Brien, Daniel
The funeral as an opportunity for social display, 1700-1820, with a specific focus on the West Country. The thesis examines eighteenth-century funerals as opportunities for social display. It analyses funerals in the region around the cities of Bath, Bristol and Salisbury, identified as the West Country. This is a prosperous and interesting region which has not been studied by existing literature on funerary consumption. The thesis demonstrates that funerals were intended to be respectable occasions, organised and performed by professionals and attended by the people with close social ties to the deceased. The funeral is presented as a display of status that used the goods and services of the developing undertaking trade. The thesis opens with an analysis of the professionals who organised and performed the funeral, the undertakers and clergy. The professionalsâ roles are outlined, and the perception of these roles is considered. Three different types of funeral are examined, showing how widely the funeral was used as an opportunity for social display. The intimate, âprivateâ funeral is presented as a celebration of personal achievement which was intended for the friends and family of the deceased. The funerals of the elite are presented as ostentatious occasions in which the display was tailored to the
funeral opportunity social_display specific_focus west_country examine eighteenth_century funeral opportunity social_display analysis funeral region around city bath bristol identify west_country prosperous interesting region study exist_literature funerary consumption demonstrates funeral intend respectable occasion organise perform professional attend people close social tie decease funeral present display status use good service develop undertaking trade open analysis professional organise funeral clergy professional role outline perception_role consider three_different type funeral examine show widely funeral use opportunity social_display intimate private funeral present celebration personal achievement intend friend family decease funeral elite present occasion display tailor