Characteristics of Victorian Age.

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Characteristics of Victorian Age:

 The Victorian Age, spanning the reign of Queen Victoria from 1837 to 1901, was a period of significant cultural, social, and political change in Britain. It was a time of rapid industrialization, expansion of the British Empire, and major advancements in science and technology. These developments profoundly influenced literature, producing a distinct body of work that reflected the complexities and contradictions of the era.

The characteristics of Victorian literature are vast and varied, reflecting the diversity of thought and experience during the period. Victorian literature is often characterized by its engagement with social, political, and moral issues, as well as its preoccupation with the role of the individual in society. Below are some of the key characteristics of the Victorian Age, as expressed in its literature.

1. Realism:

Realism is one of the defining features of Victorian literature. Authors of the period sought to depict life as it was, often focusing on the struggles of everyday people. This was a stark departure from the Romantic era's emphasis on emotion and the sublime. Instead of idealizing the world, Victorian writers aimed to present it in a truthful, unembellished manner. The rise of the novel as a dominant literary form during this period can be partly attributed to the popularity of realism.

Charles Dickens is perhaps the most famous Victorian realist. His novels, such as Oliver Twist, David Copperfield, and Great Expectations, depict the harsh realities of life in Victorian London, particularly for the poor and disenfranchised. Dickens used his works to expose the social inequalities and injustices of his time, highlighting issues such as child labor, poverty, and the dehumanizing effects of industrialization. His works are often populated by vividly drawn characters who, while fictional, are representative of real social types.

Similarly, George Eliot (the pen name of Mary Ann Evans) is another key figure in Victorian realism. Her novels, including Middlemarch and The Mill on the Floss, explore the complexities of human character and social relationships in provincial England. Eliot's works are characterized by their deep psychological insight and moral seriousness, as well as their attention to the everyday lives of ordinary people.

2. Moral Purpose:

Victorian literature often had a strong moral component, reflecting the values and concerns of the time. Many Victorian writers believed that literature should not only entertain but also instruct and improve the reader. This moral purpose is evident in much of the fiction, poetry, and drama of the period.

For example, Thomas Hardy’s novels, such as Tess of the d'Urbervilles and Jude the Obscure, often depict characters whose lives are marked by suffering and injustice. Hardy’s works highlight the harshness of life, particularly for those living in rural England, and suggest that society’s rigid moral codes often lead to tragedy.

On the other hand, Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre is imbued with a strong sense of moral righteousness, with the protagonist striving for personal integrity and spiritual growth in the face of adversity. The novel’s depiction of Jane’s journey from an oppressed orphan to a self-assured woman reflects Victorian concerns with individual morality and social justice.

This sense of moral purpose extended to poetry as well. Alfred, Lord Tennyson, the Poet Laureate of much of the Victorian era, often wrote poetry that grappled with profound ethical and religious questions. His poem "In Memoriam A.H.H." is a meditation on faith, doubt, and the possibility of life after death, reflecting the Victorian struggle to reconcile religious beliefs with scientific discoveries.

3. The Conflict Between Science and Religion:

The Victorian era was a time of immense scientific progress, but this progress often brought Victorians into conflict with their deeply held religious beliefs. The publication of Charles Darwin’s On the Origin of Species in 1859, which introduced the theory of evolution, challenged the traditional Christian understanding of creation and humanity’s place in the world. This tension between science and religion is reflected in much of the literature of the period.

In novels such as Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson, and Frankenstein by Mary Shelley (though published in the earlier Romantic period, its themes were relevant to Victorian audiences), the dangers of unchecked scientific experimentation are explored. These works reflect Victorian anxieties about the potentially dehumanizing effects of scientific progress and the loss of traditional moral values.

In poetry, Tennyson’s "In Memoriam A.H.H." grapples with the implications of scientific discoveries for religious faith. Tennyson’s narrator wrestles with doubt and despair in the face of the apparent meaninglessness of life, but ultimately finds a kind of solace in the possibility of divine purpose. Similarly, Matthew Arnold’s poem "Dover Beach" reflects a sense of loss and uncertainty, as the speaker laments the retreat of religious faith in the face of scientific advancement.

4. Social Criticism and Reform:

The Victorian period was marked by significant social and political changes, including the rise of the working class, the expansion of the British Empire, and the push for reforms in areas such as labor laws, women’s rights, and education. Many Victorian writers were engaged in social criticism, using their works to call attention to the injustices and inequalities of their time.

Charles Dickens is perhaps the best-known example of a writer who used his works to advocate for social reform. In novels such as Hard Times and Bleak House, Dickens exposed the dehumanizing effects of industrialization and the legal system, as well as the plight of the poor. His works helped to raise awareness of social issues and contributed to the growing reform movements of the time.

The novels of Elizabeth Gaskell also reflect a concern with social issues, particularly the condition of the working class. In works such as North and South and Mary Barton, Gaskell explores the effects of industrialization on both the wealthy and the poor, and calls for greater understanding and cooperation between the classes.

The Victorian era also saw the rise of the women’s rights movement, and many female writers used their works to address issues of gender inequality. Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre and George Eliot’s Middlemarch both feature strong, independent female protagonists who challenge traditional gender roles and seek personal fulfillment outside of marriage and domesticity.

5. Industrialization and Urbanization:

The Victorian period was marked by rapid industrialization and urbanization, as people moved from rural areas to cities in search of work. This transformation of society had a profound effect on Victorian literature, with many writers exploring the effects of industrialization on individuals and communities.

In Charles Dickens’ Hard Times, for example, the fictional industrial town of Coketown serves as a symbol of the dehumanizing effects of industrialization. The novel depicts the harsh conditions faced by factory workers and the ways in which the relentless pursuit of profit can erode human values and relationships.

Similarly, Elizabeth Gaskell’s North and South contrasts the rural southern English countryside with the industrialized north, exploring the tensions between the landowning class and the industrial working class. The novel highlights the struggles of workers in the face of exploitative labor practices, as well as the potential for understanding and reconciliation between the classes.

6. The Rise of the Novel:

The Victorian era is often referred to as the "golden age of the novel," as it saw the rise of the novel as the dominant literary form. Victorian novels were often long and complex, with intricate plots and a large cast of characters. They frequently focused on the lives of individuals within a broader social context, exploring themes such as class, morality, and the nature of human relationships.

Many Victorian novels were published in serialized form, appearing in magazines and periodicals over the course of several months or even years. This allowed authors to engage with their readers in an ongoing dialogue, often responding to public opinion and current events as they wrote. The serialized format also made literature more accessible to a wider audience, as readers could purchase individual installments for a relatively low cost.

Some of the most famous Victorian novelists, such as Charles Dickens, George Eliot, and Thomas Hardy, produced works that are still widely read and studied today. Their novels, with their rich character development and engagement with social issues, continue to resonate with modern readers.

7. Sentimentality and Melodrama:

While Victorian literature is often praised for its realism, it is also known for its sentimentality and melodrama. Many Victorian novels and plays are marked by exaggerated emotions and dramatic plot twists, often involving unlikely coincidences, mistaken identities, and sudden reversals of fortune.

This tendency towards melodrama can be seen in the works of writers such as Wilkie Collins, whose novel The Woman in White is a prime example of Victorian sensationalism. Collins’ works often feature mystery, suspense, and intrigue, with complex plots that keep readers guessing until the final page.

At the same time, many Victorian writers used sentimentality to evoke sympathy for their characters and to inspire readers to take action on social issues. For example, in Dickens’ Oliver Twist, the character of Oliver is portrayed as an innocent, virtuous child who is exploited and mistreated by the adults around him. Dickens uses Oliver’s plight to draw attention to the horrors of child labor and the need for reform.

8. The Role of Women:

The role of women in society was a major theme in Victorian literature. As women began to demand greater rights and opportunities, writers both male and female grappled with the changing role of women in Victorian society.

In novels such as Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights, the Brontë sisters explored the inner lives of women and the limitations placed on them by society. These works feature strong female protagonists who challenge traditional gender roles and seek to assert their independence.

Similarly, George Eliot’s Middlemarch explores the struggles of women to find fulfillment and purpose outside of the traditional roles of wife and mother. The novel Similarly, George Eliot’s Middlemarch explores the struggles of women to find fulfillment and purpose outside of the traditional roles of wife and mother. Dorothea Brooke, one of the central characters, yearns for intellectual and spiritual growth, but is constrained by the limitations placed on women by Victorian society. Eliot’s portrayal of Dorothea highlights the frustrations many women faced, as they were often denied opportunities for education, personal development, and meaningful work.

The theme of women’s rights and gender roles is also central to the works of Elizabeth Barrett Browning, whose epic poem Aurora Leigh tells the story of a young woman who defies societal expectations to pursue a career as a poet. Barrett Browning’s work reflects the growing feminist movement of the time, as women began to demand greater access to education, employment, and political rights.

Additionally, the "New Woman" figure began to emerge in literature towards the end of the Victorian era. The New Woman was often portrayed as independent, educated, and sexually liberated, challenging the traditional Victorian ideal of women as passive, domestic figures. Writers such as Sarah Grand and Olive Schreiner explored the lives of these modern women, who sought personal autonomy and rejected conventional gender norms.

9. Colonialism and the British Empire:

The expansion of the British Empire during the Victorian era had a significant impact on the literature of the time. Many Victorian writers grappled with the implications of Britain’s imperial ambitions, often portraying colonial subjects and lands in exotic or stereotypical terms. At the same time, some writers questioned the morality of imperialism and critiqued the exploitation of colonized peoples.

Rudyard Kipling, one of the most famous writers associated with the British Empire, celebrated imperialism in works such as The Jungle Book and Kim, where British characters are portrayed as bringing civilization to the "savage" lands of India. Kipling’s poem "The White Man’s Burden" epitomizes this attitude, suggesting that imperialism was a noble and benevolent enterprise, though fraught with difficulties for the colonizers.

However, not all Victorian writers were uncritical of the empire. Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre contains subtle critiques of imperialism, particularly in the character of Bertha Mason, the "madwoman in the attic" who is of Creole descent. Some critics have interpreted Bertha as a symbol of the oppressed colonial subject, whose confinement and mistreatment reflect the broader dynamics of imperial domination.

Similarly, Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness (published in 1899, at the very end of the Victorian era) is a powerful critique of imperialism and the dehumanizing effects of colonization. Through the character of Kurtz and the narrator’s journey into the heart of the African Congo, Conrad explores the moral and psychological corruption that accompanies imperial conquest.

10. Class Consciousness and the Industrial Revolution:

The Industrial Revolution dramatically altered the social and economic landscape of Britain, and many Victorian writers addressed the resulting class divisions and inequalities in their work. The shift from a predominantly rural, agrarian society to an urban, industrial one led to the rise of a working class that faced poor living and working conditions, while the middle and upper classes benefited from increased wealth and power.

The novels of Charles Dickens are perhaps the most famous examples of Victorian literature’s engagement with class issues. In works such as Hard Times, Oliver Twist, and Bleak House, Dickens exposes the suffering of the poor and critiques the indifference of the wealthy and the powerful. His works highlight the exploitation of workers, the inadequacies of the legal system, and the dehumanizing effects of industrial capitalism.

In North and South, Elizabeth Gaskell also explores the tensions between the working class and the factory owners in the industrial town of Milton. Through the character of Margaret Hale, Gaskell presents a vision of social harmony, suggesting that mutual understanding and cooperation between the classes could help alleviate the suffering caused by industrialization.

The Chartist movement, which called for political reform and greater rights for the working class, also found expression in Victorian literature. Writers such as Thomas Carlyle, in his Past and Present, and Benjamin Disraeli, in Sybil, addressed the growing political consciousness of the working class and the need for social reform.

11. Escapism and Gothic Elements:

While much of Victorian literature is marked by realism and social criticism, there was also a strong element of escapism, particularly in the form of Gothic fiction. The Gothic tradition, with its emphasis on mystery, horror, and the supernatural, continued to thrive during the Victorian era, often serving as a vehicle for exploring the darker aspects of human nature and society.

Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre incorporates many Gothic elements, such as the mysterious and foreboding Thornfield Hall, the hidden secret of Bertha Mason, and the themes of madness and confinement. Similarly, Emily Brontë’s Wuthering Heights is steeped in Gothic atmosphere, with its wild, windswept setting, passionate characters, and themes of revenge and haunting.

The sensation novels of Wilkie Collins, such as The Woman in White and The Moonstone, are also marked by Gothic influences, combining elements of mystery, suspense, and the supernatural with social commentary. These works, with their intricate plots and dramatic twists, captivated Victorian readers and continue to be popular today.

The later Victorian period saw a resurgence of Gothic fiction, with works such as Robert Louis Stevenson’s Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, Bram Stoker’s Dracula, and Oscar Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray exploring themes of duality, degeneration, and the dangers of unchecked desire. These works reflect the anxieties of the time, particularly in relation to scientific progress, urbanization, and changing social norms.

Conclusion:

The Victorian Age was a period of great complexity and contradiction, and its literature reflects the many social, political, and cultural changes that occurred during the era. Victorian writers grappled with issues such as industrialization, class conflict, gender roles, imperialism, and the conflict between science and religion, producing works that continue to resonate with readers today.

From the realism and social criticism of Charles Dickens and George Eliot to the Gothic escapism of the Brontë sisters and Robert Louis Stevenson, Victorian literature is marked by its diversity of themes and styles. It is a body of work that not only provides a window into the concerns and preoccupations of the Victorian era but also offers timeless insights into the human condition.

As we continue to read and study Victorian literature, we are reminded of the ways in which the past continues to shape our present, and of the enduring power of literature to engage with the most pressing social and moral issues of its time.