EDUCATION

in the victorian age

EDUCATION

the victorian age

Social conflicts

Industrial and economical development

1851

Colonial Expansion

The Great Exhibition

Victorian Culture

Even though a woman was the symbol of the 19th century, most ordinary women were struggling for basic rights. A woman factory wages were half of a man’ s, and when they finished working they had to do also houseworks or takes care of children. Middle class women didn’ t work in factories, they followed the example of Victoria, a good wife and mother. Women that were interested in science and other intellectual matters were considere unfeminine and was called “bluestockings”. Another injustice was that if a woman married, her wages and all her possessions became the property of her husband

Victorian Culture

Child labour became a widespread issue during the Industrial Revolution, when children as young as ten worked up to sixteen hours a day in factories and mines. This harsh reality was exposed by writers like William Blake and Charles Dickens, leading to the first protective laws. Today, the problem persists, affecting approximately 160 million children worldwide, particularly in Africa and Asia. Key aspects include: * Causes & Risks: Poverty is the primary driver. Employers often prefer children because they are cheaper and easier to manipulate. Labour is defined as "hazardous" when it harms a child's physical or psychological development. * Global Action: The 1989 UN Convention on the Rights of the Child aims to protect children, yet enforcement remains difficult in many countries. * Consumer Responsibility: We can make a difference by choosing ethical brands that pledge not to use supplies produced with child labour, especially in industries like clothing (cotton) and food (cocoa).

Charles Dickens

Dickens (1812–1870) was a famous Victorian-era English author who wrote iconic novels like Oliver Twist and Great Expectations. After his father was sent to debtors' prison, 12-year-old Dickens worked in a factory, a harsh experience that inspired his focus on poverty, social injustice, and child labor in his writing.

• Born on February 7, 1812, in Portsmouth, England.

• Career: He worked as a journalist and court reporter before finding fame as a novelist.
• Writing Style: Many of his novels, including The Pickwick Papers and Oliver Twist, were serialized (published in installments) in magazines.
• Famous Works: A Christmas Carol, Oliver Twist, Great Expectations, A Tale of Two Cities, and David Copperfield.
• Social Impact: He used his stories to highlight the harsh conditions of the poor and the failings of Victorian society.
• Death: He died on June 9, 1870, and was buried in Westminster Abbey.

• Literary Success: His first major success was The Pickwick Papers (1836), which made him a popular author.

Charles Dickens-Literary Style

Journalistic Observation: Dickens used his background as a journalist to create scenes with precision and photographic detail. Theatrical Influence: His love for the theatre led to the creation of vivid characters and dramatic, often humorous, dialogue tailored to their social class. Omniscient Narrator: He typically used a third-person omniscient point of view, allowing him to explain characters' thoughts and pass moral judgments on society. Social Criticism & Reform Targeting Injustice: His fiction attacked Victorian social problems, including child labour, the harsh legal system, and environmental pollution.

Charles Dickens-Literary Style

The Theme of Childhood Personal Trauma: Drawing from his own difficult childhood, he wrote bitterly about the cruelty of workhouses and the exploitation of children. Resolution and Moral Order Restoring Order: Most of his novels end with peace and order restored—evil is punished, and the "good" are rewarded. The "Happy Ending": To ensure a positive outcome, Dickens sometimes used "unbelievable plots," such as the sudden appearance of a wealthy benefactor (the "rich uncle" trope)

• Written by Charles Dickens between 1837 and 1839, Oliver Twist is a profound critique of Victorian society.

• The story begins in the harsh environment of a parish workhouse, where the poor were mistreated and starved. As the protagonist moves to the dark, labyrinthine streets of London, Dickens paints a vivid picture of the "Two Londons": the affluent neighborhoods of the middle class and the filthy, crime-ridden slums of the underworld.

• The plot follows Oliver, a pale and thin orphan who famously dares to ask for more food. This act of "rebellion" leads to his expulsion from the workhouse and his eventual arrival in London.

• There, he is tricked into joining a gang of juvenile pickpockets led by the elderly criminal Fagin and his top thief, the Artful Dodger. Despite being surrounded by vice and cruelty, Oliver’s innate goodness remains untainted, acting as a moral compass throughout the novel.

Oliver

Twist

David Copperfield* by Charles Dickens is a coming-of-age novel following the protagonist’s journey from a traumatic childhood to success as a writer

• David lives happily with his mother and nurse, Peggotty, until his mother marries the cruel Mr. Murdstone and his sister. Then he's sent to a harsh boarding school, and after his mother dies, he is forced to work at a young age in a London bottling warehouse. He runs away to his aunt, Betsey Trotwood, who sends him to a proper school in Canterbury

• David becomes a lawyer and then a writer, realizes his true love for his long-time friend, Agnes Wickfield, and marries her, achieving emotional maturity and stability.

• The novel explores social issues, class, personal growth, and resilience. *David Copperfield* is considered Dickens's most autobiographical work, highlighting the necessity of overcoming obstacles to find peace of mind.

David

Copperfield

• The Symbol: It was the first World’s Fair in history, created by Prince Albert to showcase Britain’s industrial, technological, and economic supremacy.

• The Venue: It took place in the legendary Crystal Palace, a massive and revolutionary structure made of iron and glass in Hyde Park, which became a symbol of modern engineering.

• The Content: It hosted over 100,000 objects from around the globe—from giant British steam engines to Indian diamonds—attracting more than 6 million visitors (one-third of the British population at the time).

• The Legacy: A massive financial success, the profits were used to establish the cultural hub of South Kensington, now home to the Victoria and Albert Museum, the Science Museum, and the Natural History Museum.

The Victorian era (1837–1901) was the golden age of British imperialism, a period when the British Empire became the largest in history, famously described as "the empire on which the sun never sets." The "Jewel in the Crown": India was the heart of the empire. After the 1857 Mutiny, the Crown took direct control, and Queen Victoria was named Empress of India in 1876. The Scramble for Africa: Britain competed with other European powers to claim vast territories across Africa, driven by the search for raw materials (gold, diamonds, rubber) and strategic routes like the Suez Canal. Trade and Industry: Colonialism fueled the Industrial Revolution. Colonies provided the resources (cotton, silk, tea) and served as captive markets for British manufactured goods. Ideology: "The White Man's Burden" Victorian colonialism wasn't just about money; it was wrapped in a sense of moral duty. Many believed in a "civilizing mission"—the idea that Britain had a responsibility to spread Christianity, technology, and the English legal system to the rest of the world. While it led to global infrastructure like railways and telegraphs, it also caused immense suffering through famines, the suppression of local cultures, and violent conflicts like the Boer Wars and the Opium Wars.

• Machines change working practices- the rapid industrial growth creates more job opportunities and the population grows significantly
• The urban landscape is affected-the lower class lives in slums, the middle class in city centers

• Both trains and ships greaten their efficiency