VICTORIAN PERIOD (1837-1901)

• The queen victoria’s reign (1837-1901)

• This period is characterized by the struggle of the
working class rights.
• This is a difficult period because of social unrest.
Working conditions were extremely very tough. Workers
have no rights, they were completely exploited.
• Health conditions of the people were also terrible, high
food prices, economic depression also leads some
revolutionary movements.
• It made artists to raise their voices against this social
injustice.
• This era slightly overlapped with Britain’s
industrial revolution, so there were many changes
in the peoples life style and views.
• SOCIAL ISSUES
• Industrial Revolution caused: child labour, low
wages, poor health.
• Women’s oppression: women questioned their
role in society.
• Population doubled
• The poor became poorer and the wealthy became
wealther
• The world was dominated by strength (survival of
the fittest)
• Demographic shift : farmer’s migrated into the
city for work in the factories.
• Psychological issues :
• Obessed with youth and appearance
• Charles Darwins theory of evolution and natural
selection brought a more animatic view to
society.
• Many saw the technological advancement as
threatening.
• Thomas Carlyle, an essayist wrote that technology
brought destruction and threatened humanity.
• Eager for the future, but still sentimental towards
the past.
• Political issues: parliament created regulations, the
reform acts gave voting rights for working class.
• Chartism; the working class movement for more
rights.
• Sanitation improved which controlled diseases, health
reforms of the 1800’s.
• Medical advancement: xray, stethoscope, antiseptic.
• More rights for women
• Married women’s property acts
• The divoree and matrimonial causes act.
• Religious issues:
• Christianity dominated the victorian era.
• Science Vs religion
• Charles Darwins theory of evolution and natural selection
cause people seperating from church. People began
distancing from church.
• Economic issues:
• Industrial revolution in london.
• Modernized business and industry.
• Caused more environmental stress.
• New inventions ; Railways, photography,
electricity and the telegraph.
• Great Britian became a global power.
• There are two pieces of literature that perfectly
represents the victorian era
• Charles dickens portray the life of a common labouring boy Pip. He
develops a relationship with his wealthy neighbour Estella but she knows he
is not of her status. Pip eventually acquires money and tries to marry Estella,
but it does not come easily. Dickens critises how much victorians value socio-
economic conditions of people their value wealth rather than humans.
• The cry of the children by Elizabeth Barret Browning: in her poem she uses
rich imagery to describe the terrible working conditions children faced in
industrial England. She heavily appeals to the reader’s emotions to push for
change.
• Cry of the children confronts issues about child labour caused by the
industrial revolution.
• Exposes the horrific conditions for children in factories and mines .
• Encourages parliament and public to create reforms and regulations for
child labour.