La Narrativa de Henry Fielding y la Sociedad Inglesa del Siglo XVIII

La Narrativa de Henry Fielding y la Sociedad Inglesa del Siglo XVIII
“Perhaps the most: striking aspect of these figures is the variation in the wages
of servants of like rank during the same year. In 1772, for instance, one land steward
had £3o, a second £70, and a third £ 1oo; in 1792 one footman was offered £12,
another £2o.
Such disparities were created by several different variables. These included the
degree of skill and competence possessed by the servant, the scope of the duties and
responsibilities he assumed, the scheme of payment he agreed with his master, and the
location of the place where he was hired.
Very naturally the more skilful and accomplished were compensated at higher rates
than those of less ability. Careful distinction was made between different levels of
competence. Among gardeners, for example, those who had creative ability as
landscapists, who understood such abstruse matters as forcing and the cultivation of
exotic fruits, were distinguished from those whose abilities were only just: sufficient for
the maintenance of a kitchen garden; among cooks the difference between a “professed
cook” -one with a mastery of French cuisine and an ability to turn out the more
elaborate native dishes-and a “good plain cook” was fully recognized. There existed,
moreover, a considerable awareness of the gradation of ability between such extremes;
and wages were given accordingly.[..]
A servant’s wages were determined by his duties no less than by his abilities.”
Fuente: J. HECHT, The Domestic Servant Class in 18th Century England, Routledge
and Kegan Paul, London, 1956. pp. 141-153.
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