From “an Englishman” to “a Briton”: the image of a gentleman in English literature of the 19th – 21st centuries (C. Dickens, Th. Hardy, A. C. Doyle, Y. Fleming, C. Ishiguro)

In the process of analyzing the works of English writers, we came to the conclusion that two types of gentlemen can be distinguished: “an Englishman” and “a Briton”. The proposed typology is based on the reflections of J. Fowles on the conflicting identities of the island’s inhabitants. In their novels, Ch. Dickens and Th. Hardy, with all the differences, created a classic image of an English gentleman, possessing such basic features as amateurism and rejection of professionalism, adherence to the norms of the moral and ethical code, the etiquette, a special attitude towards a lady, etc.Sherlock Holmes from the stories of A. C. Doyle can be seen as a transitional character, representing the image of a gentleman-Briton. For him, the prestige of the state is of great importance, so the political component is included in his activities, remaining on the periphery of the amateur detective’s interests. The image of a gentleman serving exclusively the political interests of Great Britain appears in Ian Fleming’s James Bond novels. Traditional, even archetypal features of a gentleman in this image are found in the usual gentleman’s attributes: his attractive appearance, the membership in a club, his loyalty to duty and devotion to ideals. But the professionalism of the counterintelligence officer and his lack of amateurism, as well as an ungentlemanly attitude towards a woman allows you to see him not as an Englishman, but as a Briton.Christopher Banks, the protagonist of K. Ishiguro’s novel “When We Were Orphans”, has been dreaming of becoming a “true Englishman” since his childhood. But the certainty that the fate of the world depends on him makes us see him as a Briton. His returning from the line of military conflict between Japan and China forces Christopher Banks to reconsider his position and return, although not completely, to the lifestyle of a gentleman-Englishman.