Because of its frequent vulgarity and lack of sophistication, people often forget that television is a form of art. Of course it is mass entertainment but, then again, so was Shakespeare. His plays were performed in front of an often rowdy audience of commoners, and many of his works contained dirty jokes and innuendo. Yet today Shakespeare is regarded as a master of the English language and one of the greatest students of human nature. His plays cut to the heart of life and depict the struggles of human beings with profound insight and realism. He presents us with characters that inspire and engage us, and displays the full spectrum of human emotion. A well-done television show can accomplish the same feat.
The British drama series Downton Abbey certainly deserves to be regarded as one such masterpiece. The show follows the aristocratic Crawley family and their servants through 1912 to 1925. On a historical note, the setting is quite interesting as the show portrays the profound changes that WWI wrought on British society. Class waned in importance and social relations were less clear cut. Indeed, in 1930, when Winston Churchill wrote about his youth, he said that, “When I survey this whole era I find I have drawn a picture of a vanished age.” The character of society, of politics, the methods of war, the outlook of youth, the scale of values were all changed, and changed to an extent I should not have believed possible in so short a space without any violent domestic revolution. Viewers watch as a powerful family navigates changing social norms.
The show is already quite unique in the way it portrays these changes. Nowadays it is common to view the past with what C. S. Lewis called “chronological snobbishness.” Most people believe the future inevitably progresses towards more enlightenment as we shake off the customs of our benighted ancestors. But Downton takes neither a romantic view of the past nor a naive view of the future. It merely shows the past as it was and allows viewers to understand both the dislocations and benefits of temporal progress.
Surprisingly, the show also illustrates the importance of an antiquated sexual ethic for both practical considerations like child bearing and forming meaningful relationships. When Lady Mary falls for the dastardly Pamouk it forces her into the arms of Sir Richard Carlyle and damages her relationship with Matthew. Furthermore, when she manipulates Tony Gillingham, she risks scandal and causes him great unhappiness. Similarly, when Edith gives herself to a very decent man whom she intends to marry, the resulting child makes her life much more complicated. The show doesn’t preach, nor does it denigrate the concept of romance. It merely shows that in contrast to our modern view, life has consequences.
The noblesse oblige shown by characters like Lord Grantham is also a hallmark of the show. Far from engaging in a Marxist interpretation of history, the writers illustrate the complex human relations between social classes. While no one is perfect, the family shows a profound concern for the well-being of their tenants and servants. In turn, the servants show a great deal of affection and loyalty towards their kind employers. Carson the butler would die for the family and Mrs. Patmore is sometimes moved to tears by the kindness shown to her. Indeed, the villains of the show are those like Thomas and Miss O’Brien who display an unjust resentment towards those of a higher social status. While striving to improve one’s lot is commended (think Gwen becoming a secretary), envy and greed are shown as corrosive to human relations and the individual soul.
This brings us to the subject of villains. In modern cinema, villains are often shown as mere products of their environment. Downton takes a decidedly different stance. While the series’ villains are shown to have had hard lives, this fact does not excuse their bad behavior. Ultimately, they commit acts of evil because they have freely chosen it, not because social circumstances have coerced them into a particular way of life. In this way, Downton is deeply anti-materialistic and illustrates the power and importance of human agency.
The highlights of the show, however, are its romantic stories. Indeed, Downton both separates and unites the concepts of love and lust, which our culture has forgotten. In addition to the profound importance of physical love (think of the older Mr. Carson desiring both physical and emotional attachment to Mrs. Hughes), the show also points to the importance of loving another person’s soul. Indeed, Carson’s love of Mrs. Hughes’ soul is what leads him to desire a close physical relationship.
The show also beautifully demonstrates the transformative power of love. It is not just a fleeting and intense emotion but a commitment to another person. In fact, loving makes both the lover and the beloved more lovely. For example, Lady Mary is softened and made more beautiful by her relationship with Matthew Crawley. When Mary remarks on her own coldness, Matthew disagrees and says that he is the only one who sees her as she truly is. He sees her physical beauty but also her inner beauty. And his love of her makes this inner beauty more manifest.
Ultimately, Downton is a masterpiece because it shows life as it is. Life is not a Marxist power struggle nor a Freudian game of sexual repression nor meaninglessly materialistic. Rather, life is an often sad and uncomfortable struggle that is redeemed by love, friendship, and consciously choosing the good.
