Anthony Trollope
The world of Victorian England in the 1860s was much more tumultuous than we think. Social network analysis of Trollope’s novel about an ambitious young Irish politician in London, Phineas Finn, illuminates the way in which his plot is shaped by the great issues of the day; votes for all, Irish independence and tenant rights, and the position of women in society.
In this podcast, Gerardine Meaney discusses how social network analysis can illuminate the relationship between literature and history.
Written and set amidst the political turmoil of the late 1860s, Phineas Finn combines Trollope’s keen interest in the British Parliament and Ireland. A social network analysis allows us to identify who has the most influence on the young hero of the novel and the political consequences of that influence. It also allows us to see the connection between political and romantic relationships in the novel and the way in which history impacts on literature.
Trollope like many Victorian novelists sought to portray the society of his time accurately, but also to influence opinion. At a time of Fenian violence and harsh repression in England, the plot seems to move towards marriage to a rich and beautiful woman and a successful career for Phineas. In the end, though, his career is ruined by defending the rights of peasant farmers in Ireland and he marries poor, but loyal, Mary Flood Jones.
Images from the serialised version Phineas Finn show the contrast between the representation of the charming and highly respected Irishman in Trollope’s novel and the racist images of the Irish in the popular press in the same period. We associate the elegant world of the Palliser novels with Victorian England, but images from the time show political rioting in England and the suffering of the poor in Ireland. The popularity of the 1970s adaptation of the Pallisers showed the enduring popularity of the novels.
The society in Phineas Finn is largely comprised of people who are involved with the political world of Trollope’s fictional mid-19th century London. Phineas’s family back home in Ireland are also recurring figures in the novel, but are seen much less frequently than his London companions.
Here, we have included the 20 characters that have the highest degree centrality – the number of other characters each individual in the novel is linked to. We have also included the complete list of aliases for each character, or names by which they are known or described in the novel. Additionally, a set of known attributes for each character is included.
| Definitive Name | Aliases | Attributes |
|---|---|---|
 Phineas Finn | a gallant young member of that house, finn, mr p---s f---n, mr. p---s f---n, our hero, p f, p. f., phineas, phineas finn, phinny | brother, catholic, fiancee, irish, liberal, male, politician, radical, son |
 Lady Laura Standish | l k, l. k., lady laura, lady laura kennedy, lady laura standish, laura, laura kennedy | daughter, english, female, fiancee, niece, sister, wife |
 Lord Chiltern | chiltern, half-mad lord, lord c---n, lord chiltern, oswald, oswald standish, red-bearded man, the earl's son, violent lord | aristocrat, brother, english, fiancee, gambler, hunter, male, nephew, son |
Violet Effingham | miss effingham, vi effingham, violet, violet effingham | cousin, daughter, english, female, fiancee, heiress, hunter, niece, sister |
Earl Of Brentford | brentford, earl of brentford, lord brentford, papa | aristocrat, english, father, husband, male, politician |
Mr. Robert Kennedy | kennedy, laird of loughlinter, mr kennedy, mr robert kennedy, mr. kennedy, mr. robert kennedy, new chancellor of the duchy, robert, robert kennedy | chancellor, husband, laird, male, nephew, politician, protestant, scottish, son |
Mr. Monk | a philosophical cabinet minister, joshua monk, monk, mr monk, mr. monk | cabinet minister, english, male, politician, radical |
Barrington Erle | barrington, barrington erle, erle, mr erle, mr. erle | english, liberal, male, politician, private secretary, secretary |
Mr. Mildmay | great whig prime minister, mr mildmay, mr. mildmay, the great whig minister, william mildmay | english, liberal, male, politician, prime minister |
The Hon. Laurence Fitzgibbon | fitzgibbon, laurence, laurence fitzgibbon, mr fitzgibbon, mr. fitzgibbon, that empty-headed countryman, the hon laurence fitzgibbon, the hon. laurence fitzgibbon | aristocrat, brother, debtor, irish, male, politician, son |
Dr. Malachi Finn | a simple country doctor, an irish doctor, dr finn, dr malachi finn, dr. finn,, dr. malachi finn, his governor, malachi finn, old finn, the doctor, the old doctor | catholic, doctor, father, husband, irish, male |
Madame Max Goesler | m m g, m. m. g, madame goesler, madame max, madame max goesler, marie, marie m g, marie m. g., marie max goesler, mrs goesler, mrs. goesler | daughter, female, german, jewish, sister, wife |
Lady Glencora Palliser | lady glencora, lady glencora palliser | aristocrat, english, female, mother, wife |
Lady Baldock | lady baldock, my aunt, the dragon | aristocrat, aunt, english, female, mother, wife |
Plantagenet Palliser | glencora's husband, mr palliser, mr. palliser, plantagenet palliser, planty pall | aristocrat, chancellor of the exchequer, english, father, husband, liberal, male, member of parliament, nephew, politician |
Duke Of Omnium | duke of omnium, his grace, his grand-uncle | aristocrat, duke, english, grand-uncle, granduncle, male, uncle |
Mr. Turnbull | mr turnbull, mr. turnbull, turnbull | english, father, husband, male, politician, radical |
Lord Cantrip | cantrip, lord cantrip | aristocrat, english, husband, male, politician |
Mr. Gresham | gresham, mr gresham, mr. gresham | english, husband, liberal, male, politician |
Mr. Low | an english barrister, low, mr low, mr. low, the learned pundit | barrister, english, husband, lawyer, male, teacher |
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