Repeatedly, John and other characters reference the importance of social class—and their awareness of the disparity between the Ridds and more educated or aristocratic people. This is obvious in the case of the Ridds versus the Doones, where Mrs. Ridd is embarrassed to bring her problems to Sir Ensor, even when that problem is the wrongful death of her husband at the hands of Sir Ensor’s kinsman.

John’s internalized inferiority related to social class repeatedly emerges. When directly confronted on his social inferiority on several occasions by various people (Sir Ensor, Gwenny Carfax, Carver Doone, the Counsellor, etc.), John agrees that Lorna is his social superior and offers no argument beyond the fact that he loves her and she loves him back despite his unworthiness. Even when alone, John’s narration shows his frequent considerations on how far above him Lorna is, and how he should not dare to dream of making her his wife. When he discovers that Lorna is the descendant of two ancient noble lines, including Scottish kings, John resigns himself to the idea that the marriage will never take place.

This theme also appears outside of John’s relationship with Lorna. Further examples of attention to class include the deferential behavior of the locals when

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