Curious though isn't it. Once, Robert resisted the changes and did all he could to refuse modernising. But after a while, he trusted both Tom and Mathew enough to let them try. And once the results started showing he gradually warmed to the idea, even embraced them wholeheartedly. On top of all that, despite losing Mathew, he came to love and respect Tom enough to consider him a partner and partly, the son he always wanted.
My interpretation of this was that Matthew wanted to run the estate in a more modern capitalistic way to make it more profitable. Robert (though he was clearly resisting reasonable change) was probably drawing a bit from his noblesse oblige and felt that though he received his income from the farmers, did not want to see them as disposable employees if they failed to pay their rent due to reasons. (I assume this is what he meant when he said “we have always run the estate with the farmers as partners”).
and thats exactly what Tom was talking about. Tom understands that whilst Matthew's vision is the way forward you can't go whole hog capitalist without massive problems to others. You need that morality, of which Robert has chiefly, to balance it out. You need that angel on the ear telling you to consider others, even if it means slightly less for yourself
I can relate to Matthew's frustration. When you are young and full of bright, innovative ideas, you have to fight against so much resistance from some egoistic, nearsighted people from the older generation who cannot see beyond their prejudice and accept change.🙄
@@maitreyakanitkar8742 There are some people who are open to new ideas, they are flexible, and they at least try to listen to others and understand them. I will try my best to be one of them even as an old man.😁
@@bookhills2704 Robert was an idiot who squandered his own money, married Cora, and then squandered her money too. And then wanted to over-see the managed decline of Downton, because of his ignorance. Factually speaking, Robert was just a loser.
The arrogance of stubborn old men, weaving their personal pride into the way things are done so deeply that when times change and the system must change with it they resist and get offended and refuse to listen because they can't take it as anything other than a wound to their ego and self worth.
I think considering the estate is Roberts home he had his right to have worries and doubts. But to trust Matthew and Thomas was a good idea as they are the next generation of Downtown and want it to thrive.
What would you when your whole life’s work thats all you know is suddenly told is irrelevant and if you don’t change fast enough (which a lot of people post war didn’t) would go extinct. It’s hard to find a place in that world when you’re a romantic idealist
@@PokhrajRoy. it’s upsetting is what I mean. Your whole world is gone. The show is set in a very turbulent time. And Robert did end up listening to them. But they also listened to him because he understands the duty of values that comes with the old way
Few great estates survived after WW2. War time levels of taxation continued to fund the NHS and welfare state. Death Duties were the least of it, death in battle was no excuse. Tax avoidance was thought immoral, even if legal, by families steeped in edwardian values. Commercial and business mindset was slow to develop, as english agriculture was undermined by cheap imports. There was rarely the capital to invest in mechanisation. This is germaine to the challenges faced by most if not all such estates.
