Balancing the Individual and Society

The Victorian period in Britain coincides with the reign of Queen Victoria during the 19th century. The early years of the century saw the boom of the Industrial Revolution followed by political conflict as people called for social reform and equal rights. To make matters worse, the reputation and respect of the Britain's monarchy were crumbling with the deterioration of King George III's mental state and the flagrant, extravagant conduct of his successor George IV. In the wake of this social turbulence, British society was ready for a change.

Hope for a better future soared with the ascension of Queen Victoria to the throne. A popular and modest young woman, Victoria served as a model of decorum and morality. Victorian society refined their customs of civility and etiquette. By the time Oscar Wilde was composing satirical dramas toward the end of the century, the high standards of propriety contributed to the longlasting stereotype of Victorian prudishness. As the British Empire spread across the globe, Victorians sought to show the rest of the world how society should live at its finest, yet Britain continued to struggle for social progress. on behalf of the many disadvantaged groups of Victorian society. Charlotte Brontë wrote about the limitations and barriers placed on women, and Charles Dickens authored novels championing the welfare of poor laborers and orphaned children. Mary Prince advocated on behalf of slaves who toiled in apalling conditions in Britain's many colonies. And numerous Victorian poets echoed such diverse themes as love, death, legend, warfare, and religion.

In many ways, the Victorian period can be seen as a literary and historical bridge connecting the "old world" with the "new world." Horse-drawn carriages will give way to motor vehicles, rule by a monarch will cede to rule by the people, and literature exclusive to the elite will blossom into literature from all walks of life.

Getting Started

The Eighth Wonder of the World

As technology continued to develop during the Victorian period, population numbers rapidly increased, especially in the cities. However, the population boom came with its own problems. In early 19th-century London, there was only one bridge for crossing the Thames River, which created massive traffic jams. Victorians decided to combat the problem by taking a novel approach. Instead of building a second bridge that crosses over the river, they decided to build the world's first tunnel that crosses underneath a river.

Often referred to as the Eighth Wonder of the World, the Thames Tunnel was ultimately a success and paved the way for a future of underground subway systems. However, it came at a high price and with great sacrifice. In many ways, the building of the Thames Tunnel is a symbolic reflection of the Victorian Age itself. Innovative technology promised great strides in progress, but it also demanded hard physical labor in deplorable and dangerous working conditions that claimed many lives. Like the construction of the Thames Tunnel, the Victorian Age was a paradoxical mix of optimism, progress, pessimistic decline, and suffering.

 

Key Vocabulary

To view the definitions for these key vocabulary terms, visit the course glossary.

 

bildungsroman	epigram	Realism
coming of age	feminist literature	sensory language
curtal sonnet	flashback
dramatic monologue	Naturalism