Diksha Sundriyal
Created by Steven Knight, Netflix’s ‘House of Guinness’ is a historical drama series that follows the story of the eponymous family as they enter a tumultuous period in their lives. Set in the 19th century, it transports the audience to the stormy streets of Dublin in the aftermath of Benjamin Guinness’ death. The focus is on his four children— Arthur, Edward, Anne, and Ben— who land in a succession war after their father’s will leaves each of them in an unhappy place. Each sibling comes with their own quirks and complications, and their desire for power and control mixed with some recklessness creates a chaotic series of events over the course of its run. The series deals with the themes of power, influence, family, and politics, and presents a strangely real portrait of the characters, which gives more depth to their stories.
House of Guinness is a Fictional Dramatization of the Real Guinness Family
‘House of Guinness’ is based on the true story of the real-life Guinness family, which took the world by storm by considerably expanding its brewery business, while also rising in the social and political ranks of the country. The idea for the show was put forward by Ivana Lowell, who is a Guinness from her mother’s side, who was inspired to create a show about her ancestors while watching ‘Downton Abbey’ during a family gathering. While watching the period drama, she realized that her own family had so many stories, from the start of the Guinness brewery business to its raging success over the years, that it would make for great drama. She wrote down a 20-page story detailing all the things that could be covered in the show. Eventually, her pitch found its way to Steven Knight, who was immediately intrigued.
Initially, Lowell wanted to start the show from the beginning of the Guinness business, from the point at which the beer is first crafted. However, Knight found the time following Benjamin Guinness’ death to be a more interesting point to pick up the story. And so, his children became the focus of the show. Much like in the Netflix series, Benjamin Guinness had four children, with only two of them, Arthur and Edward, receiving the responsibility to carry on the business. Anne, who was already married at the time, wasn’t allowed any participation in the family’s business, and neither was the youngest son, Benjamin, who went on to have a military career. Knight revealed that a lot of research for the show came from Lowell, who proved to be a “mine of information and untold stories about the family going back years.”
He said that he was hooked by all the tales she shared. Apart from helping him understand the Guinness history and legacy, it also helped him understand the “confidence, the spirit, and the slight madness” of the family, which played a major role in how the characters were built. While crafting the characters, Knight decided to use historical facts as the skeleton upon which to build a fictional and juicier storyline, which shows drama and conflict in the lives of the protagonists. This means that certain things, like the contents of Benjamin Guinness’ will, the dynamics between the siblings, and the trajectories of their business, political advancements, and social standing, are real. Some parts, like Arthur’s sexuality, are based on conjecture, while other details, especially concerning the romantic relationships of the family members, are entirely made-up.
House of Guinness is Infused With Real Social and Political Situations of 19th-Century Dublin
Apart from the tug-of-war within the Guinness family, the Netflix series also focuses on the ups and downs in the political climate of Dublin. The show relies on real social and political discourses to give the story a greater sense of realism. For example, the storyline focusing on the Irish revolutionaries called the Fenians is based on reality. The Irish Republican Brotherhood was a highly active organization at the time, working towards the aim of freeing Ireland from the rule of Britain. On the other hand, the Guinnesses were well-known unionists, which put them at odds with the Fenians. The show uses these facts to set the background, and then uses fictional elements like the Cochrane siblings to bring more complex elements of the story to light.
In the same vein, the show also explores the complicated religious terrain of the land, with the Catholics vs Protestants narrative becoming a significant cause of conflict in the story. It also sheds light on the effects of the famine that left the people destitute, leading to mass emigration, particularly to the US, and driving a food and living crisis for the locals. This stands in stark contrast with the growing wealth of the Guinness family.
Apart from focusing on the business, the story also turns the spotlight towards the philanthropic endeavors of the family, though it likely fictionalizes some aspects of the true intent behind them. It shows the creation of the Guinness Trust Buildings, while also focusing on the efforts of Edward Guinness to make his workers happy by giving them fair pay and introducing the idea of pensions and health benefits. Considering all this, it is fair to say that ‘House of Guinness’ expertly walks the line between fact and fiction, weaving its way in and out of the details that are borrowed from real life and the ones that are made-up.
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