The Victorian Era

Overview

1837 – 1901Heavily influenced by

the Industrial Revolution

Period of prosperity, industrialization, colonization, and reform.

Artistic styles, literary schools, as well as, social, political and religious movements flourished. Queen Victoria, for whom

the era is named

Social Conditions

Poverty

Population increased due to the Industrial Revolution

Wages were low because of the number of people looking for jobs

Housing was scarce and expensive, resulting in overcrowding

London was especially effected, developing slums

Poverty

Being poor was a crime!

Going bankrupt led one to debtor’s prison

Family had to pay off the debt before the person was released

In London, poverty was especially rampant in the East End

Child Labor

Many young children worked in factories and coal mines, as chimney sweeps, and even as prostitutes

Many lower class children did not attend school

Others were servants or sold goods on the street

Children of lower class had to help support the family

Colonization and Expansion

“The sun never sets on the British empire”England acquired Hong Kong, India, and

many colonies in AfricaThe British Empire was its most powerful and

influentialThis led to great economic development and

political power on the world stage.Also led to questions of national identity (i.e.

What makes someone British?)

Victorian Thought

Belief in humanity’s ability to better itselfConflicted thoughts about industrialization

Material benefits enjoyed Slums and brutality of factory life deplored

Questions about the role/scope of government develop: socialism is born in Europe

Charles Darwin – The Origin of Species sparks a bitter controversy Some believe religion Some believe Darwin Some try to reconcile the two

Victorian Reforms

The Reform Acts

1832: extended the right to vote to any man owning a household worth £10 (adding 217,000 voters) Considered the social start

of the Victorian Era1867: extended the right

to vote further down the class ladder, adding just short of a million voters, including many workingmen

1884: most agricultural laborers get the vote

Victorian Literature

Romanticism

Romantic literature remains popular

becomes part of the mainstream culture

Some Victorian writers keep writing in this style

Naturalism

Use scientific observation in literature

Authors filled their work with graphic details

Often were aimed at social reform

Rejects Romantic ideasPortrays nature as harsh

and indifferent to the human suffering it causes

Very popular in the early and mid Victorian era

Realism

Realism focuses on ordinary people facing the day-to-day problems of life

These movements reflect an interest in the individual and the growing middle-class audience.

Often provide sympathy for the common people

Anti-Realism

Two groups of artists rejected “realism”

Chose to refine art instead of depicting the grim realities of life

Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood: drew inspiration from medieval Italian art

Aesthetes: sought to create “art for art’s sake” whose sole purpose was perfection or beauty

Aesthete writer Oscar Wilde

Popular Genres

PoetryDrama

Oscar Wilde = famous playwright

Novels Newgate novel Gothic novel

Adventure storiesDetective fiction

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes