symbolism of the flower competition?

I think the Vicar's speech summed up the theme of the movie. I didn't see it as much as a fight between the classes and a unifying of the people. No matter what your class was, your job, your status, the movie was about people coming together.

This wasn't better represented in Britain than the rescue of several hundred thousand troops on the shores of Dunkirk and the bravery of the out-numbered RAF planes fighting off the German Luftwaffe.

The Vicar's speech called for everyone to get involved. If the war was going to be won, everyone HAD to get involved! It didn't matter if you worked in a factory, grew food on your farm, volunteer at hospitals, or help with food rationing. You contributed.

This was also the case in the U.S. once we entered the war. To this very day, historians are amazed at how quickly America mobilized. This was largely due to everyone getting involved and helping. In fact, so many guns, planes, ships, clothes, etc. were made and never used because the war ended.

When Pearl Harbor was attacked, Churchill broke open a bottle of champagne and told the people in his office, "Congratulations! We've just won the war." He said that America was like a giant boiler. Light a fire under it, and there's no limit to the amount of heat it can generate.

Again, this was due to everyone getting involved. I feel that Mrs. Miniver was a film about unification; a call to everyone to help out in any way they could.

I like your symbolsim regarding the rose. I also think that part of the message is for people to help defend all they hold dear.

"Many Americans considered Great Britain to be an outdated aristocratic feodal society and felt a certain resentment to the ruling classes (true?). "

No, it's not true.

Who is "Lady Byron"?? You mean Lady Beldon?

You missed the point of the flower scene, but since you're so interested in 'class warfare," note the speech Carol Beldon gives to Vin when she first meets him at the Miniver house. That's when Vin is a horse's ass, having just imbibed the leftist kool aid at his university, and came back to tell his parents he found his "social consciousness."

Then note how he snaps at the maid for interrupting him!

It was a message about unification, yes, but I thought more so about making the best of the time you have left. The stationmaster died shortly after, but at least Lady Beldon knew she made him happy before his death. Kind of a parallel to the Vin & Carol storyline.

You are right. By having the aristocrat give the prize to the commoner, the movie maker is subverting the idea that England was just too different a society from the US for us to bother with. You are absolutely correct that there was a large sentiment up to around 1942 in the US that we should stay out of the European War.

Also, having the rose named "Mrs. Miniver" suggests the idea that greatest prize is the common people themselves.

Seemed like years later Downton Abbey copied this storyline for Lady Violet.