The Contrast

The Contrast is a novella by Anglo-Irish writer Maria Edgeworth. Born in England, Edgeworth moved to a rural estate in Ireland at age 15. As a result, many of her novels depict rural Irish life. She was regarded as a quite successful female writer during her lifetime. She began writing at a young age.

The Contrast begins with a farmer, Mr. Frankland, and his neighbor, Mr. Bettesworth, also a farmer, discussing the rearing of children. The former says children are a blessing, while the latter says they are a curse. Either can be true, Frankland says, adding that children turn out according to how they are brought up. Frankland invites Bettesworth to partake of his birthday celebration, but the latter politely declines. Bettesworth has five children—“Idle” Isaac, “Wild” Will, “Bullying “Bob, “Saucy” Sally, and “Jilting” Jessy—who live in Monmouth. He and his vain wife, Mrs. Bettesworth, neglect their children. The. Franklands, on the other hand, are devoted parents to an equal number of children: Patty, Fanny, George, James, and Frank. During his birthday gathering, Mr. Frankland tells his youngest son, Frank, that he disapproves of his neighbor’s daughter, Jessy Bettesworth, but that he will permit his son to marry her nonetheless.

But then a distant relation of the Bettesworths dies overseas, leaving that family a small fortune. As a result of the new fortune, Jessy Bettesworth begins to ignore Frank Frankland. The fortune prompts Will Bettesworth, on the other hand, to propose marriage to Fanny Frankland. However, Fanny declines. These events lead to all connection between the two families ending.



A hay-rick catches fire and burns down the Frankland’s house. The family, ever-industrious, comes together to rebuild it. James Frankland, who works as a haberdasher in Monmouth, pays for the repairs. One day, a stranger arrives with a note claiming that they will be kicked off of their property soon, as their landlord died and his nephew, Mr. Folingsby, is accepting another tenant. Because of this, the Franklands must spread out.

Hannah, the Frankland’s servant girl, procures a place for her master and his oldest son, George, in the cottage of her former employer. James continues to work for Mr. Cleghorn as a haberdasher in Monmouth. Fanny lives as a nanny with Mrs. Hungerford and Patty with Mrs. Crumpe. Frank finds a place as a clerk for a lawyer.

James works so hard that his boss encourages him to leave the counter at the shop and go for a walk. When doing so, he happens to encounter his siblings, Frank and Fanny, the latter walking with the children in her charge. Though she is excited to see them, she feels uncomfortable, as she has been asked not to walk with others when she is walking with the children. The boys give her a letter from their father, and Fanny asks her mistress Mrs. Hungerford for permission to walk with her brothers, to which her boss agrees.



But Patty’s mistress, Mrs. Crumpe is not so permissive. When Patty receives a letter informing her that her brother George is sick, Mrs. Crumpe forbids her from going to him. Patty forfeits her position with Mrs. Crumpe, who in turn sends a servant after her with the offer of an ample sum of money to return. Patty, not enticed by money, refuses.

George dies in the company of his family. Mr. Frankland is no longer able to work on the farm and earn rent for his cottage because of his rheumatism. He tells his children that he will go into an almshouse. His children protest but know they cannot change his mind.

Patty returns to a grateful Mrs. Crumpe, who was inspired by the girl’s earlier rejection of her money. Saucy Sally has married one of Mrs. Crumpe’s two grand-nephews and is now after Mrs. Crumpe’s money. The astute Mrs. Crumpe confirms that only Patty will be in her will. She sends Patty to have this executed at the law firm where her brother, Frank is employed. Frank is absent, but Mrs. Crumpe’s other grand-nephew is a clerk here. However, he has no need for his aunt’s money. Mason, another clerk at the firm, joins Patty at Mrs. Crumpe’s as a witness and grows attracted to her. Patty remains focused on paying for her father to leave his almshouse.



When Fanny returns to work for Mrs. Hungerford, the latter entertains a cousin Philip, who is Mr. Folingsby (the Franklands’ former landlord). Mrs. Hungerford is also friends with a blind woman, Mrs. Cheviot, who employs Jessy Bettesworth as her companion. A smitten Mr. Folingby gives Fanny a book full of bank notes, which, coupled with money from the grateful Mr. Hungerford, gives her the 200 guineas necessary to rescue her father from the almshouse.

Meanwhile, Mr. Cleghorn dismisses James from his law firm when the latter discourages him from dealing with two smugglers. When James leaves, he comes across Idle Isaac, Wild Will, and Bullying Bob, who have fought with the smugglers. He learns that the Bettesworth boys were responsible for the fire at the Franklands’ farm. From this interaction, James also learns that they have squandered their fortune. James returns to inform a grateful Mr. Cleghorn.

It is explained that the Bettesworth family collectively wasted their inheritance on a lavish home, cock-fights, mistresses, and horse races. The sons are found guilty of burning the Franklands' barn, Jilting Jessy and Saucy Sally end up in unhappy partnerships, and Mr. Folingsby, who apologizes profusely to Frank for having been dismissive of his father’s request to remain on his land, immediately restores Mr. Frankland to his farm. Shortly thereafter, Mr. Folingsby marries Fanny, Patty marries Mason, James marries Mr. Cleghorn, Frank marries a pretty young woman, and Mr. Frankland continued to live a long and happy life on his farm.