Evelyn Waugh's novel Brideshead Revisited is about the relationship between two Oxford boys: Charles Ryder and Sebastian Flyte. The book takes readers through the development of their friendship and the introduction of Sebastian's family: the Marchmains. Throughout the book Charles remains in love with both Sebastian and his aristocratic family, even as Charles and Sebastian grow apart. The novel offers a thoughtful look at the golden age before World War II and what the author calls the age of Hooper and how it threatened to overthrow the aristocracy. The underlying theme of the book is the changing nature of British society, however, Waugh presents an overly pessimistic portrayal of what Hooper's age meant for the future of Britain. Before we can undertake a comprehensive analysis of the changing nature of British society, it is essential to define Hooper's age. At the beginning of the novel Waugh introduces Commander Hooper. Charles considers Hooper a symbol of young England, representing the rise of the middle class. Although Hooper only appears at the beginning and end of the book, he represents a key expression of symbolism, which permeates the novel and provides it with context. Without Hooper's introduction, the symbolic meaning of the Marchmains and what happens to them would be lost. Waught's novel Brideshead Revisited examines the decline of the aristocracy and the rise of the middle class. The Marchmain family represents old England with their country manor, lavish lifestyle and pedigree. Old England seems to have no problem spending its money on rather vulgar extravagances. An example from the novel is when Charles' father gives him five hundred and fifty pounds as an allowance for school... middle of paper... ues an heir. This leads to the deterioration of the Marchmains name. The 1920s saw a number of changes within British society, not only the decline of the aristocracy on the horizon but also some new freedoms for women. Waugh provides an example of this in Brideshead Revisited. At the end of the novel Lord Marchmain states that he would like to leave Brideshead to Julia rather than to his eldest son. The Property Act 1922, which came into force at the time of this book, would have allowed this to happen. The act allowed male family members to transfer property to women. This was an important milestone in the fight for equal rights for women. However it is unknown whether this was a point of contention for Waugh and why he included it in his discontented novel or just a point of interest. In any case it was a change for British society.