Why does The Gilded Age portray Mrs. Chamberlain as an outcast? Here's what we know

Created by Julian Fellowes, The Gilded Age, is a historical drama series that has also been written by Fellowes and Sonja Warfield. Starring Carrie Coon, Morgan Spector, Taissa Farmiga, and others, the show is set during the period of the 1880s in New York City. This period was known for its increased industrialization and corruption, which led to a new class of the wealthy and the rich. These people got quick fame and money through greed and industrialization. However, this class of people was considered to be those with new money, and they clashed with another elite class, those with old money, who looked down upon people with new money.

The series particularly focuses on the character of Bertha Russell (Coon), who wants to use her money and position to break into the polite society, which resists newcomers. On the other hand, her family of new money, the Russells, also comes into conflict with the old money van Rhijn-Brooks. The show also explores the African-American upper class and the domestic workers who work for all three groups.

In The Gilded Age, there is an enigmatic character called Mrs. Chamberlain, who is shunned by other high-society women, even though she belongs to the rich and the elite and is a patron of the arts. The mystery surrounding her character is not revealed, and there are several theories about her ostracization.

What we know about The Gilded Age portraying Mrs. Chamberlain as an outcast

The Gilded Age is a period drama, and in the first season, viewers get to meet a variety of characters. Even though the central figure is Bertha Russell and the plot focuses on the rivalry between the old money van Rhijn-Brook family and the new money Russell family, the show also presents the mysterious and wealthy character of Mrs. Chamberlain. Her character is interesting in The Gilded Age as she is a wealthy widow, and a patron of the arts, but is still looked down upon by other high society women. Further, the show does not delve into the reasons for this behavior by the elite.

The Gilded Age is a show that focuses on the period between 1970 to 1900 in New York City, where industrialization led to corruption and more wealth. This led to rising tensions between those with old money and those with new money. Even the arts flourished during this period, and Mrs. Chamberlain is an art collector. Despite being of high society, she is relegated to the sidelines by the other elites. Even the show’s character biography mentions her as someone with a scandalous past.

There are various theories about why she is ostracized in The Gilded Age and which range from killing her husband to acquiring wealth in a corrupted or unacceptable manner. Further, she could have been looked down upon for the simple reason that she has a more progressive way of thinking in a traditional society, and therefore, she is not welcome. The fact that Mrs. Chamberlain is a connoisseur of the arts points in this direction. As a free-thinking person, therefore, Mrs. Chamberlain could have been a part of the suffrage movement in the US, as during The Gilded Age’s era, the movement had arisen.

The Gilded Age is a show where those people, especially women, are looked upon differently, who dare to think in new ways and confront and challenge the traditional and conservative society. Even Bertha Russell was judged by other women of high society for thinking differently in The Gilded Age. Therefore, the fact that Mrs. Chamberlain could also be a free thinker could be the reason why she is excluded from high society. The show has many twists and turns, and each character has a past. Therefore, it would be interesting to see what the reason is behind Mrs. Chamberlain’s exclusion from the series.

Who plays Mrs. Chamberlain in The Gilded Age? And are there any real-life similarities?

The Gilded Age is a historical drama that focuses on the boom years of the late 1800s to the early 1900s in New York City. The show delves into the class politics of high society of the era and the growing tensions between those with old money and those with new money. As such, the series has a huge ensemble cast. While Carrie Coon plays the lead role of Bertha Russell, the mysterious yet enigmatic character of Mrs. Chamberlain is portrayed by Jeanne Tripplehorn. The actress has worked in movies like Basic Instinct, The Firm, and has also acted in shows like Big Love and Criminal Minds. Most famously, Tripplehorn has received an Emmy nomination for her performance as Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis in the 2009 movie, Grey Gardens.

Interestingly, in an article in Vogue, Mrs. Chamberlain’s character was compared to the real-life Arabella Huntington, who was also like Chamberlain, the second wife to a wealthy American industrialist. Huntington was also a controversial figure because she married Mr. Huntington just nine months after his first wife died of cancer. Arabella had a mysterious past as well, and she was looked down upon by high society. Further, she had a son born out of wedlock, just like Mrs. Chamberlain in The Gilded Age. This could be another reason why Mrs. Chamberlain is excluded from high society. Both women were also similar in being great patrons of the arts.

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The Gilded Age is available on HBO.

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