The Victorian Era
The Victorian Era was an era filled with refined sensibilities, peace, and prosperity in Britain. It was a time of national self confidence and high social values that began to lean away from rationalism and embrace romanticism. Many people, when they think of the Victorian Era, picture nothing but stuck up men and women gathered daintily around their parlours in dresses that look like they might squeeze the blood right out of their bodies. Rules were inflexible, the prospect of manners was insufferably strict, classes were distinct - it is certain that to be impoverished during the victorian era would be extremely unfortunate. For certain, if anything can be said about the Victorian Era, it is that it is one of the eras that held the highest amount of change. Everything that was once thought as a sacred and indisputable truth was assaulted during the era. ALmost every institution in society was rocked off of its foundation by fast, dubious change. Steam engine technology paved the way to increased factory production, increased manufacturing required more coal to be mined; Europe's economic state accelerated as the a completely global economy laid down its foundation. Copious amounts of wealth came to be, and the attitude of the time did not encourage the regulation of business practices. Unfortunately, where wealth was evident, there was also great poverty and hardships.
Many writers during the Victorian era used their work as a means of telling the world about the problems of oppression and poverty, as well as social problems and errors in their society. Romanticism was still large at the time, as was poetry. In the early parts of the era, poetry was the most evident form of literature, but somewhere in the middle of the century, the novel took its place as the leading vehicle for the transmission of literature. Victorian novels depicted romanticized versions of difficult lives where perseverance, love, luck and hard work rose above in the end. The virtuous would be rewarded and the wicked would be appropriately punished. The novels tended to have a central moral lessen within their stories. The Victorian era is known for its emphasis on the novel, and many timeless novels have come from that time.
Feminism was a progressing idea during the era. Woman began to speak their feminist opinions through the literature they created - Charlotte Bronte being a prime example of this in her novel Jane Eyre. The idea of equality between men and women was increasing in popularity, and slowly beginning to stand its ground in society.
Many writers during the Victorian era used their work as a means of telling the world about the problems of oppression and poverty, as well as social problems and errors in their society. Romanticism was still large at the time, as was poetry. In the early parts of the era, poetry was the most evident form of literature, but somewhere in the middle of the century, the novel took its place as the leading vehicle for the transmission of literature. Victorian novels depicted romanticized versions of difficult lives where perseverance, love, luck and hard work rose above in the end. The virtuous would be rewarded and the wicked would be appropriately punished. The novels tended to have a central moral lessen within their stories. The Victorian era is known for its emphasis on the novel, and many timeless novels have come from that time.
Feminism was a progressing idea during the era. Woman began to speak their feminist opinions through the literature they created - Charlotte Bronte being a prime example of this in her novel Jane Eyre. The idea of equality between men and women was increasing in popularity, and slowly beginning to stand its ground in society.