The Gilded Age

Julian Fellowes returns to the world of social stratification with The Gilded Age, a historical drama that premiered on HBO on January 24, 2022. Set in New York City during the late 1870s and extending into the early 1880s, the series documents the seismic shift in American society following the Civil War. It captures the collision between established families who inherited their status and industrialists who acquired wealth through railroads, banking, and commerce.

The narrative centers on Marian Brook, an orphaned young woman from the South played by Louisa Jacobson. She moves to New York to live with her wealthy, rigidly traditional aunts, Agnes van Rhijn and Ada Brook. While Agnes represents the entrenched social elite guarding its gates against outsiders, Marian arrives with fresh eyes and a modern sensibility. Her arrival coincides with the rise of the Russell family, led by Bertha Russell, a fiercely ambitious widow determined to break into high society. [edit]

Marian Brook finds herself caught between two worlds upon arriving at her aunts' home on West 57th Street. The Van Rhijns represent the old guard, adhering to strict European etiquette and refusing to acknowledge anyone without generational pedigree. In contrast, the Russells occupy a space of immense financial power but precarious social standing. George Russell is a railroad magnate whose wealth is undeniable, yet his family remains excluded from the city's most exclusive circles. Bertha Russell refuses to accept this exclusion and embarks on a relentless campaign to force her way into the upper echelons of New York society.

A central thread of the story follows Peggy Scott, a Black woman working as a maid for the Russells. Her arc explores the complexities of race, class, and gender in post-Reconstruction America. Peggy navigates systemic barriers within the domestic sphere while seeking education and independence. Her journey highlights the stark differences between the struggles of the white nouveau riche and the African American community, even as both groups face discrimination from the established elite.

Season One establishes the world through the initial friction between the Russells and the Van Rhijns. The conflict culminates in the opening of the Russell mansion at 1 West 57th Street and the first major social event where Bertha attempts to host the city's elite. Season Two expands the scope by introducing new characters like the eccentric Lady Agatha and deepening conflicts regarding the construction of the subway system and the treatment of workers. The Russells face public scrutiny and legal challenges while Peggy begins to navigate her own path toward independence.

Season Three shifts the focus to the aftermath of a major scandal involving the Russells. It introduces a broader political landscape, including the rise of organized labor and the growing influence of women in public life. The season explores the consequences of previous events, testing the resilience of the main families as they face financial ruin, social ostracization, and personal betrayals. The overarching shape of the series follows the gradual erosion of old-world etiquette and the inevitable rise of a new American identity, driven by the very people the old guard seeks to exclude.[edit]