23) Morris on lifestyle politics

Posted in PaulHampton's blog on ,

Morris was a political activist, and although his personal life was informed by his socialist politics, he did not see lifestyle or consumer behaviour as a substitute for political action. And he was no “back to the land simple-lifer”, despite moving in circles where alternative living was practiced – Edward Carpenter being the most prominent exponent.

This was well summed up in his attitude toward vegetarianism, which in the 1880s was seen by some socialists as a touchstone of their revolutionary convictions. For Morris, vegetarianism was a personal matter, one of private conscience and not a precondition of socialism. In Commonweal, (25 September 1886), commenting on an exchange of views that was taking place on vegetarianism in the paper and within the wider socialist movement, he wrote:

“It seems to me that there is no need either to attack a vegetarian or to confer a vote of thanks on him… But a man can hardly be a sound Socialist who puts forward vegetarianism as a solution of the difficulties between labour and capital… there are people who are vegetarians on ascetic grounds, and who would be just as tyrannical as other ascetics if they had a chance of being so.” (Salmon 1996 p.140)

He returned to the theme two years later, no doubt because the discussion continued to preoccupy many socialists. He wrote: “I have not a word to say against vegetarianism voluntarily practiced on the grounds that its suiting the health of the practiser, or of the natural sentiment against ‘corpse-eating’ as a friend of ours has called it; but in most more or less laudable associations that are not Socialist there lurks a snake in the grass; and the reptile is not lacking in the verdant meadow of vegetarianism… because it would lead to simplicity of life, and because it would be a remedy for poverty.”

And on the good life, he was clear: “Simplicity of life – good, most good, so long as it is voluntary; but surely there is enough voluntary simplicity of life, i.e. hard fare, already; and to live poorly is no remedy against poverty, but a necessity of it.” (Commonweal, 6 October 1888 in Salmon 1996 p.467-68)

According to Edward Thompson, when he was told that a young middle class acquaintance had retired to the woods to lead a natural life, he only grinned and remarked, “let us know when she comes out”. (1976 pp.703-704)

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