Of England's patrician class, the author writes: It was easy to be agreeable when everything was done to keep them in comfort and ease.
In her book "The Proud Tower: A Portrait of the World Before the War, 1890-1914," Barbara W. Tuchman explores the life of England's upper class, describing their comfortable existence. The author suggests that the ease and luxury surrounding this patrician class made it simple for them to embody agreeable manners and behaviors. Their privileged lifestyle shielded them from the harsher realities of life that others endured, allowing them to maintain a facade of charm and pleasantness.
Tuchman's observation highlights the disconnect between the affluent and the struggles faced by the lower classes during that era. By indicating that their agreeableness stemmed from their sheltered lives, she critiques the broader social inequalities present in society. This perspective invites readers to reflect on how privilege can shape personality and behavior, often leading to a lack of awareness regarding the challenges that others face outside their comfortable enclaves.