The Victorian EraThe Victorian Era1837 - 19011837 - 1901

M. BoudreauM. BoudreauIB English A: L & LIB English A: L & L

The Victorian EraThe Victorian Era

1.1. Queen VictoriaQueen Victoria2.2. Great Britain – The World’s Greatest EmpireGreat Britain – The World’s Greatest Empire3.3. Economy, Class and IndustryEconomy, Class and Industry4.4. Societal ValuesSocietal Values5.5. Literary MovementsLiterary Movements6.6. Oscar WildeOscar Wilde

1. Queen Victoria1. Queen Victoria

Ruler of a Gilded AgeRuler of a Gilded Age

The important thing is not what they think of me, but what I think of them.

—Queen Victoria, 1850 

Early Victorian PeriodEarly Victorian Period

1830’s - A “Decade of New Beginnings”

1837: Victoria is shown as a fairytale, teenaged queen

Radiated youthful enthusiasm to match the decade’s early years

Mid-Victorian PeriodMid-Victorian Period

1850’s – “The Matron-Monarch” Now married to Prince Albert Settled into a stable, productive

domestic image Royal family symbolizes the

productivity boom of 1850’s industry

Culminates in the Great Exhibition of 1851

Late Victorian PeriodLate Victorian Period

1870’s - “The Widow of Windsor”Reclusive after Albert’s early death in 1861Projected a world-weary gloominessHer aging was reflected in Britain’s own sense of maturation as an Empire

By the end of Victoria’s reign (1901), she came to embody:

Empire Stability & Continuity Duty, Family, & Propriety Stern conservatism

2. Rule Britannia2. Rule Britannia

The World’s Greatest EmpireThe World’s Greatest Empire

The British EmpireThe British Empire

A Society of firsts (1800 to 1899):

population goes from 8.3 to 30.6 million Great Britain becomes the richest country on earthFirst urban society in historyFirst industrial society in historyLondon’s population grows from 1 million in 1801 to 6.5 million by the end of the Victorian EraBy 1890, 500 million people on the earth were under British rule (roughly ¼ of the world’s population)

3. The Age of Industry3. The Age of Industry

A Tale of A Tale of Two CitiesTwo Cities

Period of IndustrializationPeriod of Industrialization

Land owning aristocracy loses power The insecure, “ever expanding” urban middle

class gains power Businessmen Professionals Bourgeoisie Formal Education

Millions of rural workers are forced into poverty in cities

The Upper classesThe Upper classes

Generally defined as aristocrats whose income is based solely upon inheritance and property values.

Forms exclusive societies / clubs dedicated to pleasure, art and insight.

The Middle classesThe Middle classes Men who perform mental or "clean" work. Generally paid monthly or annually. Work could take the form of doctors, lawyers and clerks. The Middle classes expanded rapidly in towns and cities

and contributed to burgeoning consumerism and technological developments.

The Lower classesThe Lower classes

Men and women who performed labour-intensive and menial tasks.

Social class created by the Industrial Revolution.

Paid daily or weekly wages. Lives were impacted by

disease and lack of sanitary conditions.

Typical Annual Incomes (1856)Typical Annual Incomes (1856)Upper classUpper class

Aristocrats £30,000 Merchants, bankers £10,000

Middle-class Middle-class

Doctors, Lawyers, Clerks £300-800Teachers, journalists, shopkeepers £150-300Skilled workers £75-100

Lower-classLower-classSailors and domestic staff £40-75Laborers, soldiers £25

Social IssuesSocial Issues

The rapid developments created: Enormous prosperity but also unthinkable poverty Humane reforms but also flagrant exploitation Immense ambitions but also devastating doubts

In sum, it was an age of great achievement, deep faith, indisputable progress but also an era of destruction, religious collapse, malicious profiteering.

Other social consequencesOther social consequences

Extension of voting rights Rise of trade unions Changing roles for women Development of socialism Separation of church and state Questioning of tradition

4. Societal Values4. Societal Values

Pride and EarnestnessPride and Earnestness

What is a Victorian?What is a Victorian?

The adjective "Victorian" was first used in 1851 to celebrate the nation's mounting pride in its institutions and commercial success.

This historical/literary period is defined by the duration of a monarch’s rule, rather than any one unifying idea.

Victorian ValuesVictorian Values

Victorian social conduct is governed by:Victorian social conduct is governed by:

1.1. Strict rulesStrict rules2.2. Formal mannersFormal manners3.3. Rigidly defined gender rolesRigidly defined gender roles

a)a) Relations hampered by sexual pruderyRelations hampered by sexual pruderyb)b) Intense obsession with a public appearance of Intense obsession with a public appearance of

decorum and modestydecorum and modesty

Manifestations of ValuesManifestations of Values

Preened imagePreened image EnergeticEnergetic Phenomenal work ethicPhenomenal work ethic Sense of duty towards the “Public Good”Sense of duty towards the “Public Good” Self-confidentSelf-confident A Society of “over-achievers”A Society of “over-achievers”

5. Literary Movements5. Literary Movements

Key Features of Early Victorian LiteratureKey Features of Early Victorian Literature

The novel makes its first appearance on the pages of The novel makes its first appearance on the pages of periodicalsperiodicals..

The voice of the The voice of the omniscient narrator omniscient narrator provides a moralizing provides a moralizing barrier between what is right and wrong.barrier between what is right and wrong.

Most stories were set in the Most stories were set in the towntown, , specifically London.specifically London. Literature was generally Literature was generally realisticrealistic and focused on the and focused on the

private lives (secrets) private lives (secrets) of characters.of characters. Literature often focused on Literature often focused on social issuessocial issues.. Generally, literature transcended class.Generally, literature transcended class.

Key Features of Late Victorian LiteratureKey Features of Late Victorian Literature

1870’s onward A new realismrealism prevailed which rejected any sentimental

and romantic attitude. Literature focused on the clash between man and

environment, his dreams and their fulfilment, and illusion illusion and realityand reality.

the writers were criticalcritical and attacked the superficial optimism and self confidence of the age.

Main characters became alienatedalienated from society.

4 Main Literary Movements4 Main Literary Movements

Realism:Realism: reproduction of the reality without idealizing it

Naturalism:Naturalism: total objectivity and scientific approach to Literature

Aestheticism:Aestheticism: Art for Art’s sake (O. Wilde)

Decadentism:Decadentism: Art is superior to nature, the finest beauty is that of dying and decaying things