On the border between two worlds: the feudal and modern aspects of a member of parliament from the dualist era
On the border between two worlds: the feudal and modern aspects of a member of parliament from the dualist era

Summary/Abstract: The beginning of the text discusses the evolution of the concept of Hungarian middle class, highlighting the fragmented nature within which the topic is debated. It particularly focuses on the gentry’s role and the challenges faced in defining and creating a cohesive middle class. The gentry was viewed as a key element, yet there were debates around its decline and its relationship with newer economic elements, including Jewish entrepreneurs. Critics argued that this class struggled to adapt to capitalism, using its political power to cling to influence and maintain its status. The study then attempts to identify some aspects of gentry thinking, through the short biography of Gabor Varady, and the memoires and newspaper articles by which he narrates his life. Varady is a revolutionary, politician and journalist of modest noble background. His early life was marked by his father’s position within the county, and Varady gradually rose to influence during the Hungarian Revolution of 1848 and the repercussions that followed. He had a varied career that included political involvement and cultural initiatives, but financial mismanagement and subsequent scandals marred his later years. Varady’s reflections, expressed in his writings, reveal a deep concern for the moral state of Hungarian society, which he believed was corrupted by materialism and a pursuit of titles, particularly among the aristocracy. He viewed the political and social pillars of society as interdependent, suggesting that a moral decay followed the imposition of neo-absolutism, eroding genuine national identity. Stemming from the stereotypes that nobles of the Hungarian Reform Era had, Varady criticized the behaviors he thought were rampant among both aristocrats and modern elements of society – such as stoke traders and journalists –, attributing societal issues to greed and a lack of moral grounding. However by the modern, liberal aspects of his mentality, he maintained that individual character and industriousness were pivotal for societal progress and advocated for the employment of women while opposing anti-Semitism. His life experiences placed him at a crossroads of tradition and modernity, and by the end of his career, ripened with nostalgia for a bygone, principled era, Varady expressed pessimism about Hungary’s future, suggesting that a major catastrophe might be necessary for renewal.

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