Alcohol as a Benchmark in Castle Rackrent

Throughout Edgeworth's novella, Thady often uses alcohol to mark the causation of events leading to the eventual fall of Condy Rackrent. For example, on Rackrent's election day, on which Thady looks back "with pleasure and tears of gratitude for those good times," he joined his master in drinking to "his good health and the downfall of his enemies till we could stand no longer ourselves" (98). Due to his social position which places him far below his master, Thady is seemingly obligated to partake in his master's victories by drinking heavily. To some extent, then, drinking with his master elevates Thady to a position almost parallel to the Irish nobility. By the same token, however, alcohol leads to the antithesis of this elevation. Indeed, only two sentences later, Thady claims his master had the "impudence" (presumably alcohol-induced) to meet Jason who will ultimately cause the ruin of the Rackrents. Thus, alcohol is celebratory and enjoyed in large doses by the upper classes, though also causes such foolishness that can result in dissolution. These two are so closely related that once Jason has bought the Rackrent estate and Condy has vacated it, Thady again uses alcohol as a benchmark, saying "that was the last time his honour's health was ever drunk at Castle Rackrent" (111). Edgeworth, through this "honest" narrator is actively taking note of the disastrous potential of over-drinking in Irish society. She even goes so far as to passively suggest that English interference in Ireland is the only thing that "will hasten or retard the melioration of this country" (122). Thus, as others have already mentioned, Edgeworth is a proud Irish and perhaps due to this pride, hopes to witness the betterment of this alcoholic and debilitated society.