📖British Literature II Unit 5 – Victorian Era: Historical & Cultural Context

Historical Background

• Victorian Era named after Queen Victoria's reign from 1837 to 1901
• Preceded by the Georgian Era and followed by the Edwardian Era
• Period of great change and progress in Britain with advancements in industry, science, and technology
• Marked by the expansion of the British Empire through colonialism and imperialism
• Witnessed significant social and cultural shifts including the rise of the middle class and the challenge to traditional values and norms
• Characterized by a sense of optimism and belief in progress tempered by anxieties about rapid change and social upheaval
• Saw the growth of cities and the emergence of new urban social problems such as poverty and crime

Social Structure and Class System

• Victorian society highly stratified with a rigid class system
• Upper class consisted of aristocracy and landed gentry who held most of the political power and social prestige
• Middle class emerged as a significant force during this period due to the Industrial Revolution and the expansion of commerce and trade
  • Included professionals such as doctors, lawyers, and businessmen as well as lower-level clerks and shopkeepers
• Working class made up the majority of the population and included factory workers, domestic servants, and agricultural laborers
  • Often lived in poverty and faced difficult working and living conditions
• Social mobility was limited but not impossible with some individuals able to rise through the ranks through hard work, talent, or marriage
• Class distinctions were reinforced through differences in education, manners, and social activities

Industrial Revolution and Its Impact

• Period of rapid industrialization and technological advancement that transformed the British economy and society
• Shift from manual labor to machine-based manufacturing led to the growth of factories and the rise of the factory system
• Advances in transportation such as the steam engine and the railway allowed for the faster movement of goods and people
  • Facilitated the growth of cities and the expansion of trade
• Urbanization led to the growth of cities and the emergence of new social problems such as overcrowding, poor sanitation, and disease
• Working conditions in factories were often harsh with long hours, low wages, and dangerous machinery
  • Led to the emergence of labor movements and calls for reform
• Environmental impact of industrialization included air and water pollution as well as the depletion of natural resources
• Economic benefits of industrialization were not evenly distributed with the working class often facing poverty and hardship

Literary Movements and Trends

• Victorian literature characterized by a variety of genres and styles including realism, romanticism, and gothic fiction
• Realism emerged as a dominant literary mode with authors seeking to depict the world as it really was, including the harsh realities of industrial life and social inequality
  • Examples include Charles Dickens and Elizabeth Gaskell
• Romanticism continued to influence Victorian literature with its emphasis on emotion, imagination, and the natural world
  • Poets such as Alfred, Lord Tennyson and Robert Browning were major figures in this movement
• Gothic fiction explored themes of horror, mystery, and the supernatural and was popularized by authors such as Bram Stoker and Mary Shelley
• Victorian literature often had a moral or didactic purpose with authors seeking to educate and uplift their readers
  • Works often featured strong moral messages and themes of social reform
• serialization of novels in magazines and newspapers became a popular form of publication and allowed for a wider readership
• Poetry remained an important literary form with poets experimenting with new styles and forms such as the dramatic monologue

Key Authors and Works

• Charles Dickens (1812-1870) was one of the most popular and influential authors of the Victorian Era
  • Known for his social criticism and vivid characters in works such as "Oliver Twist", "David Copperfield", and "Great Expectations"
• George Eliot (1819-1880), real name Mary Ann Evans, was a major novelist of the period
  • Known for her realist depictions of rural life and strong female characters in works such as "Middlemarch" and "Silas Marner"
• Alfred, Lord Tennyson (1809-1892) was the most famous poet of the Victorian Era
  • Served as Poet Laureate and known for works such as "In Memoriam A.H.H." and "The Charge of the Light Brigade"
• Robert Browning (1812-1889) was a major poet known for his dramatic monologues
  • Famous works include "My Last Duchess" and "The Ring and the Book"
• Thomas Hardy (1840-1928) was a novelist and poet known for his depictions of rural life and the struggles of the working class
  • Major works include "Tess of the d'Urbervilles" and "Jude the Obscure"
• Oscar Wilde (1854-1900) was a playwright, novelist, and poet known for his wit and flamboyant personality
  • Famous works include "The Picture of Dorian Gray" and "The Importance of Being Earnest"

Victorian Values and Morality

• Victorian society placed a high value on morality, respectability, and propriety
• Strict codes of behavior governed social interactions and personal conduct
  • Emphasis on self-discipline, hard work, and thrift
• Religion played a central role in Victorian life with the Church of England as the dominant faith
  • Religious beliefs often shaped moral attitudes and social norms
• Victorian morality often associated with sexual repression and strict gender roles
  • Women expected to be chaste and submissive while men expected to be dominant and sexually active
• Double standard in sexual morality with men's sexual transgressions often overlooked while women faced severe consequences for any perceived impropriety
• Victorian values also emphasized the importance of family, marriage, and domestic life
  • Ideal of the "angel in the house" - the perfect wife and mother who created a haven of peace and virtue in the home
• Philanthropic and charitable works were also highly valued as a means of alleviating social problems and demonstrating Christian virtue
• Victorian morality and values often used to justify social inequalities and the exploitation of colonized peoples

Gender Roles and Women's Rights

• Victorian society characterized by strict gender roles and expectations
• Women expected to be submissive, domestic, and focused on marriage and motherhood
  • Legal and social restrictions limited women's opportunities for education, employment, and political participation
• Ideal of the "angel in the house" - the perfect wife and mother who created a haven of peace and virtue in the home
• Women's roles often defined in relation to men as daughters, wives, and mothers
• Women's education often limited to domestic skills and accomplishments such as music, drawing, and needlework
• Women's employment opportunities limited to low-paying and low-status jobs such as domestic service, teaching, and factory work
• Women's rights movements emerged during the Victorian Era to challenge these restrictions and advocate for greater equality
  • Campaigns for women's suffrage, property rights, and access to education and employment
• Key figures in the women's rights movement included Barbara Bodichon, Emmeline Pankhurst, and Millicent Fawcett
• Women writers such as George Eliot and the Brontë sisters challenged traditional gender roles and expectations through their works

Empire and Colonialism

• Victorian Era marked by the expansion of the British Empire through colonialism and imperialism
• Britain emerged as the world's leading imperial power with colonies and territories spanning the globe
  • Included India, Australia, Canada, and large parts of Africa
• Colonial expansion driven by a variety of factors including economic interests, political rivalries, and a sense of cultural and racial superiority
• British colonialism often justified through the idea of the "civilizing mission" - the belief that it was Britain's duty to bring civilization and Christianity to "backward" peoples
• Colonial rule often brutal and exploitative with indigenous peoples subjected to violence, forced labor, and cultural suppression
  • Examples include the Indian Rebellion of 1857 and the Boer Wars in South Africa
• Colonialism also had a significant impact on British society and culture
  • Exotic goods and ideas from the colonies influenced fashion, art, and literature
  • Colonial administrators and military officers formed a distinct social class with their own customs and values
• Anti-colonial resistance movements emerged in many colonies to challenge British rule and assert indigenous rights and identities
• Legacy of British colonialism continues to shape global politics, economics, and culture to this day

Scientific and Technological Advancements

• Victorian Era marked by significant advancements in science and technology
• Charles Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection challenged traditional religious beliefs and transformed the understanding of the natural world
  • Outlined in his book "On the Origin of Species" (1859)
• Advances in medicine and public health led to improved living conditions and increased life expectancy
  • Development of germ theory by Louis Pasteur and Joseph Lister led to improved sanitation and medical practices
• Invention of the steam engine by James Watt revolutionized transportation and industry
  • Led to the development of railways, steamships, and factories
• Advances in communication technology such as the telegraph and the telephone transformed the way people communicated and exchanged information
  • First transatlantic telegraph cable laid in 1866
• Advances in photography and the development of the camera changed the way people documented and perceived the world
  • First photograph taken in 1826 by Joseph Nicéphore Niépce
• Advances in electricity and lighting transformed homes, workplaces, and public spaces
  • Thomas Edison invented the light bulb in 1879
• Scientific discoveries and technological innovations often met with both excitement and anxiety
  • Some feared the social and cultural changes brought about by these advancements
• Legacy of Victorian science and technology continues to shape the modern world in countless ways

Legacy and Influence on Modern Literature

• Victorian literature had a significant influence on the development of modern literature
• Realist tradition in the novel continued to evolve in the works of authors such as James Joyce and Virginia Woolf
  • Emphasis on psychological depth, stream of consciousness, and experimental forms
• Victorian poetry's emphasis on the dramatic monologue and the exploration of the inner life of the speaker influenced the work of modernist poets such as T.S. Eliot and Ezra Pound
• Victorian literature's engagement with social and political issues continued to be a major theme in modern literature
  • Works by authors such as George Orwell and Aldous Huxley explored the dangers of totalitarianism and the loss of individual freedom
• Victorian gothic tradition continued to influence horror and fantasy literature in the works of authors such as H.P. Lovecraft and Stephen King
• Victorian children's literature, such as the works of Lewis Carroll and Edward Lear, continued to be popular and influential
  • Inspired later children's authors such as J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis
• Victorian literature's exploration of gender roles and women's rights continued to be a major theme in modern literature
  • Works by authors such as Virginia Woolf and Simone de Beauvoir challenged traditional gender norms and expectations
• postcolonial literature emerged in response to the legacy of British colonialism and imperialism
  • Authors such as Chinua Achebe and Salman Rushdie explored the impact of colonialism on indigenous cultures and identities
• Victorian literature's emphasis on moral and social responsibility continued to influence modern literature
  • Works by authors such as Toni Morrison and Khaled Hosseini explored issues of race, class, and social justice