The Victorian AgeThe Victorian Age

1832-19011832-1901

An era of rapid changeAn era of rapid change

Queen VictoriaQueen Victoria

From Rural to CityFrom Rural to City

When Queen Victoria took her throne in When Queen Victoria took her throne in 1837, most of England’s people lived in 1837, most of England’s people lived in the country; by the time she died in 1901, the country; by the time she died in 1901, most lived and worked in towns and cities. most lived and worked in towns and cities. But, in either locale, life for the poor was But, in either locale, life for the poor was extremely difficult, as dramatized in the extremely difficult, as dramatized in the novels by Charles Dickens. Here is a novels by Charles Dickens. Here is a snapshot of some living conditions for snapshot of some living conditions for Victoria’s less fortunate subjects.Victoria’s less fortunate subjects.

The middle classThe middle class

HousingHousing A typical working-class dwelling in London A typical working-class dwelling in London

had one room. The family cooked (over had one room. The family cooked (over an open fire), ate, bathed (weekly in a tin an open fire), ate, bathed (weekly in a tin tub on the kitchen floor), and slept in the tub on the kitchen floor), and slept in the same space. There was no toilet or same space. There was no toilet or running water. The waste, kept in “slop running water. The waste, kept in “slop jars” was dumped into cesspools or the jars” was dumped into cesspools or the nearest river. Not until 1875, when the nearest river. Not until 1875, when the Public Health Act was passed, were all Public Health Act was passed, were all newly built homes required to have a privy.newly built homes required to have a privy.

NutritionNutrition Working-class diets were short on protein Working-class diets were short on protein

and vegetables. The staple foods for rural and vegetables. The staple foods for rural workers were bread, potatoes, and tea; in workers were bread, potatoes, and tea; in prosperous times milk and cheese were prosperous times milk and cheese were available. When there was meat, the available. When there was meat, the biggest portion went to the man of the biggest portion went to the man of the house, because he did hard physical house, because he did hard physical labor. Men from this class were noticeably labor. Men from this class were noticeably shorter than upper-class males. shorter than upper-class males.

The PoorThe Poor

While middle class became more prosperous, the poor often worked While middle class became more prosperous, the poor often worked in untenable conditions. Sixteen hour days in dangerous factories, in untenable conditions. Sixteen hour days in dangerous factories, and children suffered. and children suffered.

Who is to blame for poverty? Who is to blame for poverty?

Child LaborChild Labor Children often began working by age five, with Children often began working by age five, with

those as young as three helping their mother those as young as three helping their mother with piecework in the home up to 16 hours a with piecework in the home up to 16 hours a day. Others took dangerous jobs in coal mines day. Others took dangerous jobs in coal mines or factories. Children late for work were or factories. Children late for work were severely punished, but often the family was too severely punished, but often the family was too poor to buy a clock. Many children from poor to buy a clock. Many children from orphanages and city workhouses were orphanages and city workhouses were “purchased” by the owners of large textile mills, “purchased” by the owners of large textile mills, making them the virtual property of the mill making them the virtual property of the mill owner until they turned 21. The Factory Act of owner until they turned 21. The Factory Act of 1844 limited the workers under age 18 to “only” 1844 limited the workers under age 18 to “only” 12 hours of labor; a subsequent act reduced that 12 hours of labor; a subsequent act reduced that to ten hours. Finally, in 1899, employment of to ten hours. Finally, in 1899, employment of children under age ten was prohibited.” children under age ten was prohibited.” (Biography Magazine, November 2001, 85).(Biography Magazine, November 2001, 85).

Life expectancyLife expectancy

In 1840, the average life span for upper-In 1840, the average life span for upper-class Londoners was 45 years. Laborers class Londoners was 45 years. Laborers and servants, on average, lived only 22 and servants, on average, lived only 22 years. In general, rural dwellers lived years. In general, rural dwellers lived longer than city dwellers, the rich lived longer than city dwellers, the rich lived longer than the poor, and men lived longer longer than the poor, and men lived longer than women. The leading killer in the 19th than women. The leading killer in the 19th century was tuberculosis, then called century was tuberculosis, then called “consumption.”“consumption.”

Irish Potato Famine-2 million forced to emigrateIrish Potato Famine-2 million forced to emigrate

British Census Commissioners in 1841 had British Census Commissioners in 1841 had declared the population of Ireland to be declared the population of Ireland to be 8,175,124. During the Famine years, 1845-50, 8,175,124. During the Famine years, 1845-50, Ireland's population declined in the millions due Ireland's population declined in the millions due to deaths from starvation and disease and from to deaths from starvation and disease and from mass emigration to North America and England. mass emigration to North America and England. However, nobody was keeping count of the However, nobody was keeping count of the actual number of people involved. Famine actual number of people involved. Famine victims often died unseen in mud huts or along victims often died unseen in mud huts or along the roadside only to be quickly buried in shallow the roadside only to be quickly buried in shallow unmarked graves or in mass graves. unmarked graves or in mass graves.

After the Famine, Ireland's slow economic After the Famine, Ireland's slow economic progress resulted in a continued drain of progress resulted in a continued drain of talented, hard-working young people. Between talented, hard-working young people. Between 1851 and 1921, an estimated 4.5 million Irish left 1851 and 1921, an estimated 4.5 million Irish left home and headed mainly to the United States. home and headed mainly to the United States.

Continued emigration combined with a lowered Continued emigration combined with a lowered birth rate resulted in a steady decline of Ireland's birth rate resulted in a steady decline of Ireland's population until the 1960s when it leveled off at population until the 1960s when it leveled off at about four million. (www.historyplace.com)about four million. (www.historyplace.com)

Mothers & Children Mothers & Children

ChildbearingChildbearing Childbearing: Childbearing: Printed information about birth Printed information about birth

control was illegal. The typical working-class control was illegal. The typical working-class wife was either pregnant or nursing from her first wife was either pregnant or nursing from her first year of marriage until menopause. In mid-year of marriage until menopause. In mid-century, the average number of children per century, the average number of children per family was 6; about 20% of families had 10 or family was 6; about 20% of families had 10 or more children. The morality rate was high: One-more children. The morality rate was high: One-half of all children of farmers, laborers, and other half of all children of farmers, laborers, and other workers died before reaching their fifth birthday workers died before reaching their fifth birthday (compared to 1 in 11 children of the land-owning (compared to 1 in 11 children of the land-owning gentry). Crying babies were often silenced with a gentry). Crying babies were often silenced with a mixture of opium and alcohol, and overdoses did mixture of opium and alcohol, and overdoses did lead to deaths. lead to deaths.

Influences of RomanticismInfluences of Romanticism

Revere poetry and the poetsRevere poetry and the poets Poets ignored the grim reality and focused Poets ignored the grim reality and focused

on exotic locales, nature, romance, and on exotic locales, nature, romance, and heroic times; thereby making themselves heroic times; thereby making themselves irrelevantirrelevant

Which leads to the rise of the Which leads to the rise of the

NOVEL.NOVEL.

Science Science

Published 1859Published 1859

LiteracyLiteracy

According to the 1841 census, 67% of According to the 1841 census, 67% of men and 51% of women were literate. But men and 51% of women were literate. But few people in the working class had more few people in the working class had more than two or three years of full-time than two or three years of full-time schooling, which typically took place in a schooling, which typically took place in a one-room schoolhouse attended by one-room schoolhouse attended by children of many ages. children of many ages.

The NovelThe Novel

Arguably, the first novel was Arguably, the first novel was RobinsonRobinson CrusoeCrusoe written in the mid 1700’s.written in the mid 1700’s.

Middle class readers loved to read about Middle class readers loved to read about people like themselves, so novels were long, people like themselves, so novels were long, the “three decker,”often serialized. Types:the “three decker,”often serialized. Types:

1.1. Social problem exposeSocial problem expose

2.2. Psychological realism focused on internal Psychological realism focused on internal realitiesrealities

3.3. Light entertainment “penny dreadfuls,” and Light entertainment “penny dreadfuls,” and “shilling shockers”“shilling shockers”

RealismRealism

Characteristics:Characteristics: complex complex

characterscharacters SettingsSettings DialogueDialogue Focus on Focus on

psychologypsychology

Victorian AuthorsVictorian Authors

Matthew ArnoldMatthew Arnold

Charles DickinsCharles Dickins

The BrowningsThe Brownings

Charlotte BronteCharlotte Bronte

White Cliffs of DoverWhite Cliffs of Dover

Now go to page 1034Now go to page 1034Now turn to page 1034 in your textbook