Time Period and Socio-Economic Reality of the Novel Beautiful Losers

Beautiful Losers

Time Period and Socio-Economic Reality

The novel Beautiful Losers takes place in the 1600s and in the 1900s in Quebec. Life at that time was very different from the way we are living now. It is very interesting to understand the time period and what was happening during these times because it can help us understand the book better and get a good idea of why the characters are thinking or acting one way instead of another.

Socio-Economic Realities of the Time in Which This Book Was Written

The book mostly takes place in the 17^th century, in the province of Quebec. During these years, Quebec was in the period of the Sovereign Council. They were called New France and were more in a colonization period. The primary economic activities at this time were growing crops such as pumpkin, squash, beans, and corn, lumbering, shipbuilding, trading and there were also slaves. During the 1600s the status of merchants improved. People saw that trade was an increasingly important part of the country's wealth, which caused merchants to gain respect and power. However, political power and influence were held by rich landowners. During the 17^th century, society was the nobility.

However, in the 20th century, there was French Canada and English Canada. They did not get along very well during these years. In 1980, Quebec (where people spoke french) wanted to be separated from Canada. It did not happen, but it almost did. The only reason Quebec did not separate from Canada was because just a little bit more that 50% of the Quebeckers voted "no" during the referendum.

 

"Daughters of the King" that were sent to New France to help colonize.

Farming in the 17th century

Important Markers 

In the 20th century, the English and French in Canada are perceived as oppressors and oppressed. The Quebecers are feeling oppressed because of the anglophones, but they can form an unique identity together compared to Anglophone Canada, which is unable to form an identity that differs from the Americans. At that time, the French and the English are in a big cultural war against each other. In the 1600s, it was really all about where you came from and what language you spoke.

Henri Bourrassa, militant for Quebec and nationalism.

A Glimpse of What Life Looked Like at That Time

While reading, we can identify in the book titled Beautiful Losers many things that really happened in the 1600s. For example, religion was very important in people’s lives during the Middle Ages. Almost everyone was religious by choice and if they were not by choice, they were still forced to believe in God, follow rules and go to church. In Leonard Cohen's book, faith and Christianity are mentioned more than once, so Cohen really put the emphasis on religion and the fact that it was a big subject in the 1600s. Another thing of the past that was reflected in the book was slaves. It was only mentioned in the beginning, but you could see in that sentence that it was not a big deal to them, and they were talking openly about it to people. Now, in 2020, having slaves is considered a crime and even talking about it is still a subject that we tend to avoid. So, while you are reading the book, you can really see what life was like the 17^th century and understand the differences between then and now.

In the 20th century, religion was still important, but people had a little bit more liberty.

Cathedral-basilica Notre-Dame de Québec

Do These Elements Tie into The Story?

Actually, the story is more about love and cheating, plus it gives a lot of sexual details. These things haven't changed in centuries, but the only thing that can be more related to this time period is how far the people were from their sexual reality, how intimate it was to talk about it. Another element that can be traced from the 17^th century is the constant war between the French, the English and the Indians, which is not a turning point in the novel, but it is still mentioned.

List of references:

1. DESJARDINS, François. Immigration from Old to New France, (site consulted on 11/09/2020), [online], https://www.genealogiequebec.com/blog/en/2018/02/14/immigration-from-old-to-new-france/. 

2. Filles du Roi -- "Daughters of the King", (site consulted on 11/09/2020), [online], https://www.lookbackward.com/perrault/filleroi/.

3. COUTURE, Claude. Quebec | The Canadian Encyclopedia, (site consulted on 11/09/2020), [online],  https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/quebec.

4. TAYLOR, Jeff and Lyle DICK. History of Agriculture to the Second World War, (site consulted on 11/09/2020), [online], https://thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/histoire-de-lagriculture.

5. WIKIPEDIA. History of Quebec, (site consulted on 11/09/2020), [online], https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Quebec.