Victorian Era (1837-1901)

Victorian Era (1837-1901)

Victorian Era (1837-1901)

Key Characteristics:

Major Authors and Works:

Cultural Context

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Cultural contex

- The era was marked by profound social and technological changes, including the expansion of the railway, the rise of factories, and the emergence of new class divisions. - The British Empire’s global influence reached its peak, but it was also a time of intense social unrest, with movements for women's suffrage, labor rights, and reforms to address the dire living conditions of the poor. - Victorian society was deeply conservative, and the tension between strict social codes and the realities of industrial life led to the exploration of hypocrisy, inequality, and human suffering in literature.

- The era was marked by profound social and technological changes, including the expansion of the railway, the rise of factories, and the emergence of new class divisions. - The British Empire’s global influence reached its peak, but it was also a time of intense social unrest, with movements for women's suffrage, labor rights, and reforms to address the dire living conditions of the poor. - Victorian society was deeply conservative, and the tension between strict social codes and the realities of industrial life led to the exploration of hypocrisy, inequality, and human suffering in literature.

- Thomas Hardy: Hardy’s novels, such as Tess of the d'Urbervilles and Jude the Obscure, frequently examine the effects of societal pressure on individuals, especially the constraints placed on women and the poor. - The Brontë Sisters: Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre and Emily Brontë’s Wuthering Heights both deal with themes of love, isolation, and the struggle for personal integrity. - Robert Browning: Known for his dramatic monologues, Browning's poetry, such as My Last Duchess, delves into the psychology of his characters and their complex emotional states.

The Victorian era was marked by the reign of Queen Victoria and saw a massive expansion of the British Empire. This period was defined by its strict social codes, rapid industrialization, and the burgeoning of social reform movements. It was an era of contrasts: great wealth and innovation alongside deep poverty and exploitation.

Major Authors and Works

- Charles Dickens: One of the most iconic Victorian writers, Dickens created some of the most memorable depictions of social injustice in novels like Oliver Twist, Great Expectations, and A Tale of Two Cities. He critiqued the effects of industrialization, the legal system, and class divisions. - George Eliot (Mary Ann Evans): Known for her psychological insight and critique of social conventions, Eliot’s Middlemarch is considered one of the greatest novels in English literature. It explores themes of marriage, social change, and moral choice.