📘English Literature – 1670 to 1850 Unit 16 – Victorian Novels: Dickens & the Brontës

Key Authors and Works

• Charles Dickens (1812-1870) wrote influential novels such as Oliver Twist, David Copperfield, and Great Expectations that depicted the lives of the working class and poor in Victorian England
  • A Christmas Carol, a novella published in 1843, tells the story of Ebenezer Scrooge's transformation from a miserly old man to a kind and generous person after being visited by three ghosts on Christmas Eve
• The Brontë sisters, Charlotte (1816-1855), Emily (1818-1848), and Anne (1820-1849), wrote novels that explored the inner lives and struggles of women in the 19th century
  • Charlotte Brontë's Jane Eyre, published in 1847, follows the life of an orphaned governess who falls in love with her employer, Mr. Rochester, despite the secrets he harbors
  • Emily Brontë's Wuthering Heights, published in 1847, is a dark and passionate tale of the tumultuous relationship between Catherine Earnshaw and Heathcliff set against the backdrop of the Yorkshire moors
• Elizabeth Gaskell (1810-1865) wrote novels that addressed social issues and the lives of working-class people, such as Mary Barton and North and South
• William Makepeace Thackeray (1811-1863) satirized the upper classes in his novel Vanity Fair, which follows the manipulative and ambitious Becky Sharp as she climbs the social ladder
• Thomas Hardy (1840-1928) wrote novels set in the fictional region of Wessex that explored the impact of industrialization and social change on rural life, such as Tess of the d'Urbervilles and Jude the Obscure

Historical Context

• The Victorian era (1837-1901) was a period of significant social, economic, and political change in Britain marked by the reign of Queen Victoria
• The Industrial Revolution transformed Britain from an agricultural to an industrial society leading to rapid urbanization, the growth of factories, and the rise of the working class
  • This period saw the expansion of the British Empire through colonization and trade, as well as the spread of British culture and values around the world
• The Victorian era was characterized by strict social norms and a rigid class system, with a growing middle class that valued respectability, morality, and domesticity
  • Women were expected to conform to the ideal of the "Angel in the House," a submissive and pure figure devoted to her husband and children
• The period also saw significant reforms and social movements, such as the abolition of slavery, the expansion of education, and the fight for women's rights
  • The Chartist movement in the 1830s and 1840s campaigned for political reform and universal male suffrage
• Scientific discoveries and technological advancements, such as Charles Darwin's theory of evolution and the development of the steam engine, challenged traditional beliefs and transformed society
• The Victorian era was also marked by a growing interest in spiritualism, the occult, and the supernatural, as well as a fascination with death and mourning rituals

Literary Themes and Motifs

• Social class and mobility were major themes in Victorian literature, with many novels exploring the lives of characters from different classes and their attempts to move up or down the social ladder
  • Dickens' novels often depicted the struggles of the working class and the poor, while Thackeray's Vanity Fair satirized the upper classes and their obsession with status and wealth
• Gender roles and expectations were another significant theme, with many novels exploring the limited opportunities and oppressive social norms that women faced in Victorian society
  • The Brontë sisters' novels, such as Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights, featured strong female protagonists who challenged traditional gender roles and expectations
• The impact of industrialization and urbanization on society was a recurring motif, with novels depicting the harsh living and working conditions of the urban poor and the social and economic inequalities of the time
  • Gaskell's novels, such as North and South, explored the tensions between the industrial north and the rural south of England
• The conflict between individual desire and social duty was a central theme, with characters often struggling to reconcile their personal desires with the expectations and demands of society
  • In Dickens' Great Expectations, Pip's ambition to become a gentleman conflicts with his loyalty to his humble origins and his love for Estella
• The supernatural and the gothic were popular motifs in Victorian literature, with many novels featuring ghostly apparitions, dark secrets, and mysterious events
  • Emily Brontë's Wuthering Heights is a prime example of a gothic novel, with its dark and brooding atmosphere, ghostly visions, and themes of obsession and revenge

Narrative Techniques

• Victorian novels often employed a third-person omniscient narrator who had access to the thoughts and feelings of all the characters and could provide commentary on the events of the story
  • This allowed authors to explore the inner lives of their characters and to provide a broader perspective on the social and moral issues of the time
• Many Victorian novels were published in serialized form, with chapters or installments released periodically in magazines or newspapers before being collected into a single volume
  • This format encouraged cliffhangers and plot twists to keep readers engaged and encouraged them to buy the next installment
• Victorian authors often used detailed descriptions and imagery to create a vivid sense of setting and atmosphere
  • Dickens was known for his elaborate descriptions of London's streets and buildings, while the Brontë sisters used the wild and rugged landscape of the Yorkshire moors to reflect the passionate and untamed nature of their characters
• Foreshadowing and symbolism were common techniques used to hint at future events or to convey deeper meanings and themes
  • In Dickens' A Christmas Carol, the ghosts of Christmas past, present, and future symbolize Scrooge's journey of redemption and the importance of compassion and generosity
• Many Victorian novels employed multiple plot lines and a large cast of characters, reflecting the complexity and interconnectedness of society
  • Dickens' Bleak House, for example, features over 50 characters and several interweaving plot lines that explore the corruption and inefficiency of the British legal system
• Victorian authors often used dialogue and dialect to create distinct voices for their characters and to reflect their social class and background
  • Dickens was known for his use of cockney dialect and slang to represent the speech of the working class, while the Brontë sisters used Yorkshire dialect to add authenticity to their characters

Social Commentary

• Victorian novels often served as a form of social commentary, critiquing the injustices and inequalities of the time and advocating for reform
  • Dickens' novels, such as Oliver Twist and Hard Times, exposed the harsh living and working conditions of the poor and the exploitation of children in factories and workhouses
• Many Victorian authors used their novels to challenge traditional gender roles and expectations and to advocate for women's rights and education
  • Charlotte Brontë's Jane Eyre features a strong and independent female protagonist who asserts her own desires and agency in a society that sought to limit women's opportunities
• The impact of industrialization and urbanization on society was a common theme, with novels depicting the social and economic inequalities and the environmental degradation caused by the growth of factories and cities
  • Gaskell's North and South explores the tensions between the industrial north and the rural south of England and the impact of industrialization on the lives of workers and their families
• Victorian novels often explored the hypocrisy and corruption of the upper classes and the institutions of power, such as the government, the church, and the legal system
  • Thackeray's Vanity Fair satirizes the social climbing and moral bankruptcy of the British aristocracy, while Dickens' Bleak House critiques the inefficiency and corruption of the British legal system
• Many Victorian authors used their novels to promote social and moral values, such as charity, compassion, and self-improvement
  • Dickens' A Christmas Carol emphasizes the importance of generosity and kindness towards others, while Gaskell's Mary Barton advocates for the rights and dignity of the working class

Character Analysis

• Victorian novels often featured complex and multi-dimensional characters who underwent significant development and transformation throughout the course of the story
  • In Dickens' Great Expectations, Pip's journey from a poor orphan to a wealthy gentleman and his ultimate realization of the emptiness of his ambitions reflects the theme of social mobility and the importance of staying true to one's roots
• Many Victorian novels explored the psychological depths and inner conflicts of their characters, often using interior monologue and stream of consciousness techniques to reveal their thoughts and feelings
  • In Charlotte Brontë's Jane Eyre, Jane's inner struggles and moral dilemmas are a central focus of the novel, as she navigates the challenges of her position as a governess and her love for the enigmatic Mr. Rochester
• Victorian authors often used their characters to represent different social classes and types, using them to explore the complexities and contradictions of Victorian society
  • In Dickens' Bleak House, the characters of Lady Dedlock and Jo the crossing sweeper represent the stark divide between the upper and lower classes, while the character of Esther Summerson embodies the virtues of compassion and selflessness
• Many Victorian novels featured strong and independent female characters who challenged traditional gender roles and expectations
  • In Gaskell's North and South, Margaret Hale is a strong-willed and intelligent woman who defies social conventions and speaks out against the injustices she witnesses in the industrial north
• Victorian authors often used their characters to explore the theme of duality and the conflict between public and private selves
  • In Stevenson's Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, the characters of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde represent the duality of human nature and the struggle between good and evil within the individual

Critical Reception and Legacy

• Victorian novels were immensely popular in their time, with many authors achieving widespread fame and commercial success
  • Dickens was one of the most famous and beloved authors of the Victorian era, with his novels being eagerly anticipated by readers and his public readings drawing large crowds
• Many Victorian novels were initially criticized for their frank depictions of social issues and their challenges to traditional moral and social norms
  • The Brontë sisters' novels, particularly Emily's Wuthering Heights, were initially met with shock and disapproval due to their passionate and unconventional themes and characters
• Victorian novels have had a lasting impact on English literature and continue to be widely read and studied today
  • Works such as Dickens' Great Expectations and Charlotte Brontë's Jane Eyre are considered classics of English literature and are regularly taught in schools and universities
• Victorian novels have been adapted into numerous films, television series, and stage productions, testament to their enduring popularity and relevance
  • Notable adaptations include David Lean's 1946 film of Great Expectations, the 1939 film of Wuthering Heights starring Laurence Olivier, and the 2006 BBC miniseries of Jane Eyre starring Ruth Wilson and Toby Stephens
• The social and political commentary of Victorian novels continues to resonate with readers today, as many of the issues they addressed, such as poverty, inequality, and gender discrimination, remain relevant
  • Dickens' critiques of the workhouse system and child labor in novels such as Oliver Twist and Hard Times have been credited with helping to inspire social and political reforms in Victorian England

Connections to Other Literary Movements

• Victorian literature was influenced by the Romantic movement of the late 18th and early 19th centuries, which emphasized emotion, imagination, and individualism
  • The Brontë sisters' novels, with their passionate characters and wild, Gothic settings, reflect the influence of Romanticism on Victorian literature
• Victorian literature also had a significant impact on the development of realism, a literary movement that sought to depict the world as it really was, without idealization or sentimentality
  • Gaskell's novels, with their detailed and accurate depictions of the lives of the working class, are considered important examples of social realism
• The Victorian novel played a key role in the development of the sensation novel, a genre that emphasized mystery, suspense, and shocking plot twists
  • Wilkie Collins' The Woman in White, published in 1859, is considered one of the first sensation novels and paved the way for later works in the genre, such as Mary Elizabeth Braddon's Lady Audley's Secret
• Victorian literature also had a significant influence on the development of detective fiction, with many Victorian novels featuring mystery and crime elements
  • Dickens' Bleak House, with its complex plot and multiple mysteries, is considered an important precursor to the detective novel, while Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes stories, which first appeared in 1887, established many of the conventions of the genre
• The social and political commentary of Victorian literature had a significant influence on the development of socialist and Marxist literary criticism in the 20th century
  • The works of Dickens and Gaskell, with their critiques of capitalism and their sympathetic portrayals of the working class, have been widely studied and analyzed from a Marxist perspective