: Critical Note on Victorian Age

Name            :            Rabhadiya Vinod

Roll No.        :            34

Batch Year   :            2014/15

Semester       :            2

Paper No       :            6 (The Victorian Literature)

 

Topic             :            Critical Note on Victorian Age

 

 

Submitted To :         S.B.G. Dept. Of English

                                 M.K.K.S. Bhavnagar University

Critical Note on Victorian Age

Introduction:

The duration of queen Victoria’s reign is known as the Victorian Age or the age of Tennyson or as some critics believe age of Charles Dickens. According to William J.long the period from 1850-1900 is considered as the Victorian Age. While W.H.Hudson considers the period from 1832-1887 for Victorian era and general belief about or consideration for Victorian period is 1837-1901. Elizabeth Age has unique identity the same way Victorian age has. This age is the age of doubts,disputes,realism and romance, materialism and spiritualism, peace and unrest, religion and science.It is marked with material advancement,mechanical progress,democratic deal, education, expansion, pessimism, scientific advancement, patriotism etc. The age is also known as the age of prose especially novel.

Let’s have a look at the condition during this era.

Social political Background: The Victorian era was essentially a period of peace and prosperity for England  as it was so poets like Alfred Lord Tennyson who was the master of poetry and leading poet too. Who could not remain silent and exclaimed with joy and sang the glory of the age.

“ It is the land that free man til

That sobber suited freedom choose

The land were girt with friend & foze

A man may speak the thing he will

A land of satted govrment

A lnd of just an old reknown”

So the national life was peaceful, though there had been few colonial wars. The country was in processor of change by french and german struggle as well as American civil war. The last vesting of personal government and of divine rights of rulers disappeared.The house of commen became theruling power in England. There was a clear influnce of Darwin’s theory over english life.

    Drawin broke the ancient religious belief about the birth of man kind. During this period the discovery of machine also played an important role history of England. The industrial revolution changed the production but on the other hand. Thousands of people became unemployed because of the discovery of machine.

Earlier there were only class in the society upper and lower class but at a later stage industrial revolution gave birth to third class that was middle class of the businessman. A large reading public was prepared to welcome the output of novels due to expansion of education .Even in the field of science there was unprecedented progress and scientific advancement during this era.This age has produced literary scholar who were moralists, religious and thinker. That’s why this age is called the age of great thinkers .

   Let’s discuss about characteristics of this age.

Literary Characteristics/Salient feature:

(1)   An age of prose:  The Victorian age is known as the age of prose. Though the age ha produced many poets (Tennyson and Browning) who deserves to rank among the greatest. This is emphatically an age of prose. John Ruskin, Carlyle, Macaulay, Matthew Arnold etc. were almost prose writers of this age.

(2)   Moral Purpose: Moral purpose is keynote of Victorian literature. The literature of this age both prose and poetry seems to depart from the purely artistic standard of ‘ Art for art sake’ and to be actuated by definite moral purpose Tennyson. Browning Carlyle not only masters of literature but also teachers of England. Perhaps for this reason Victorian age is known as age of realism rather than romance.

(3)   Idealism: it is some what customary to speak of this age as this age is age of doubt and pessimism following the new concept of man and of universe which formulated by science under the name of evolution. It is spoken about this age that this age is lacked in great ideas. Both these criticism seem to be judging a large thing that may be challenged when we closely study this .We may not agree with above judgments. This literature has idealism as William J.long remarks

“The literature which expresses our faith in man

may judge the Victorian age to be on the whole

the noblest and most inspiring in the history of the world.”

(4)   New Education:    The education acts,making a certain measure of education compulsory,rapidly produced an enormous reading public.The cheapening of printing and proper increased the demand for books as a result from of literature was novel and the novelists with a will much of their works was a higher standard. A large number of reading people waiting for new novels.

(5)   An era of peace:    It is an age of comparative peace. England began to think less of the pomp and false glitter of fighting and more of its moral evils Tennyson who came when the great reform bill occupied attention expresses the ideas of the liberals of his day who proposed to spread the gospel of peace.

The new colonial that broke out during the Victorian approach did not seriously disturb the national life.

(6)Material Development :   It was an age with new activity.There was a revolution in commercial enterprise ,due to the great increase of available markets and as a result of this an immense advance in the use of mechanical countries. This era also became as the age of machine.

(7) The revolt:    Many writers protested against the deeding effects of the conventions Carlyle and Matthew Arnold in their different accents were loud in their denunciations, Thackeray never tried of satirizing the snobbishness of the age , and Browning cobby mannerisms were an indirect challenge of the velvety diction and the smooth self-satisfaction of the Tennyson school.

(8) International  Influnces :    During the 19^th century the instrument among American and European writers were remarkably fresh and strong. In Britain the influences of great German writers were continuous and it was championed by Carlyle and Matthew Arnold. Subject nations in particular the Italians were a sympathic theme for prose and verse . Browning ,Swinburne, Morris ,Meredith were deeply absorbed in the long struggle of the followers of Garibald and cavour and when Italian freedom was gained and the rejouing was genuine.

(9) An age of compromise:    The Victorian age is called an age of compromise as well. The Victorian sought a happy compromise controversial ideology. Victorian compromise was particularly perceptible in three branches of life, there was compromise between democracy and aristocracy second was between religion and science and the third was new machinaries and old system of working. The advance made by science was acceptable but the claim of religion could not be ignored. The main compromise between science and faith in religion as Tennyson says,

    “There remain more faith in honest doubt believe me than in half the creeds”

Literature of the Age:

(1)Poetry:     The Victorian age was essentially the age of pose and novel but poetry too had                                  remarkable output.

    As William J.Long points out:

“Though this age produced many poets and two who deserve to rank among the greatest nevertheless, this is emphatically an age of prose and reason”

Among the two Alfred Lord Tennyson is considered as the most representative poet of the age. His poetry provides a mixture of pain and pleasure. His short poems are marvelous. He is the master of Elegy. In variety of his verse. He possesses all the qualities of the greatest poet.

Some of his remarkable works are

‘The princes – A long poem’

‘In memoriam- A colletion of Elegy’

‘Ulysses’

‘Lockly hall’

Are also great works of Tennyson .

Robert Browning is another distinguished poet of the period. He was the father of dramatic Monologue. He was an optimistic port in pessimistic age. ‘Men and Women’ is the masterpiece of him. He is not like many other entertaining poets. One cannot read his poetry was influenced by Itlalian painters.

(2)                  Novel:

As far as novel writing is concerned this period is considered the unique period for novels. In th words of William J.long

  “The novel in this age fills the place which drama held in the days of Elizabeth and never before in any age of language has novel appeared in such numbers and in such perfection”

This age has produced many first rate novelist like Charles Dickens, Thomas Hardy, Matthew Arnold, George Eliot, William M. Thackeray, Charlotte Bronte etc. who lead novel o the top of the achievements.

(1)  Charles Dickens(1812-70)

Charles Dickens was the most influncial novelist of this age. More ever he was a social reformer. His masterpiece are,

‘The pickwick papers’

‘Oliver Twist’

‘A tale of two cities’

‘David Copperfield’

His popularity was exploiled in jounalism for he edited ‘ the Daily New’. In 1858 Dickens commenced his famous series of ‘Public reading’. They were also given in America with the greatest success.

(2)  Thomas Hardy:

Hardy was also leading novelist. His famous works are”

‘Tess of d’ urbervilles’

‘Mayer of the Casterbridge’

(3)  William M. Thackeray(1811-63):

William Thackeray was also representative of novel.He was groping for a men of expression, and wavered between verse prose and sketching. His famous works are:

‘The book of Snobs(1849)’

‘Vanity Fair The memoirs of Barry London (1844)

(4)  George Eliot: (1819-80)

George Eliot was the celebrated person for this age. Hes novel  deal with the tragedy of ordinary lives, unfolded with an intense sympathy and deep insight in to the faith truth of the character/ His famous works are:

‘Adam Bede(1859)’

‘The mill on the Floss (1860)’

‘Middlemarch , a study of provencial life (1871-72)’

‘Daniel Deronda(1876)’

All these novels are classical novel of the Victorian age.Emily Bronte, Anne Bronte, Charles Kinsley of the period. So we can say that novel is the dominant literary form of this era.

(3)                  Prose:

As we have noted during this age the output of the novels and poetry was remarkable on the other hand prose writing was also rich. This period has produced many outstanding prose writers and critics and social reformers like Thomas Carlyle, John Ruskin, Matthew Arnold etc.

Thomas Carlyle- ‘The french Revolution’

Ruskin -‘Un to the last’

Arnold’s –‘Perfect to the poem’

Are eminent examples of prose writing of this era.

Victorian Novel as a form of Literature:

Introduction :

Generally Victorian era is considered the age of prose and especially of novel. In comparison to other form Novel is quite modern form. Novel sent its childhood in the second half of the 18^th century. In the second half of the 19^th century novel seemed to be much matured adult and young. Henry Fielding , Tobias Smollet and Laurence Sterne who gave a good move to English novel but the English novelists led this form to the peack of perfection.

Let’s discuss how Victorian novel was artistic and more appealing.

(1)   Perfect in Style:    English novel found its artistic and perfect many festation in Victorian era. Novel was more artistic with well-knit plots,more prosperous language and better presentation of characters. Thomas Hardy was an architect by profession and his mastery can be found in his plot construction. His novel contain a well –Knife plot. Hence Technically better novels. Charles Dickens was high giffed with imaginative poewr. In this matter , he stands among the most creative writers like shakespeare, Keats. His novel like ‘Oliver Twist’ ‘Great Exceptions’ are the great examples of such art.

(2)   Presentation of Social life:    A novel has wider scope of presenting various aspects of society. Therefore it is rightly stated a novel is a social document.  18^th century novel  was mostly picaresque novel that developed on the road like Fielding’s novel ‘Tom Jones’ or ‘Joseph Andrews’. While 19^th century Victorian novels depict social life closely. In novels of Bronte Sisters the society can be observed like a character, Thackeray’s ‘Vanity Fair’ and Bronte’s ‘Jane’ highlight sophisticated society various gathering parties are described minutely by these novelists. In most of the Victorian novel there is a good presentation on social life.

(3)   Rich creation of novel: The publication of British novel could be observed at a very large scale novel found its wider output in both quantity as well as quality. It was unique period for English novel. As William J.Long remarks:

  “The novel in this age fills the place which drama held in the days of Elizabeth and never before in any age of language has novel appeared in such numbers and in such perfection”

Great masters of novel like Charles Dickens, Thomas Hardy contributed in the best way to popularize this form of literature.

(4)   Portrayal of women: The portrayal of female characters can be observed with more importance in Victorian novel. Women for the first time leading role in English novel. Certain novels like ‘Pride and prejudice’ ‘Vanity Fair’ ;Tess of a Urber Villas’ etc. are novels mainly by female characters. In such novels the heroines lead the story and instead of supporting characters they perform the main role. Even female writers also come out with flying colors. Bronte sisters George Eliot etc. who contributed a lot to popularize the novel as a form of literature. So the female writers of this age produced remarkable novel.

(5)   Rise of the middle class: Industrial revolution brought a drastic change in the social life of English people. Earlier the British was divided into two classes rich class and poor class who were businessman or  traders. Many Victorian novel depict such society of middle class people for example ‘Sense and sensibility’, ‘Vanity fair’. They highlight the social life with their desire to appear more sophisticated and civilized etc.

(6)   Higher Ranked novelists: Novel was born in 18^th century but 19^th century nourished it in the best way as a result. This form found its highest artistic stage in the hands of Charles Dickens, Thomas Hardy, Bronte Sisters, Thackeray, Eliot, kipling etc. British critic Laurence Rainei commets.

Victorian poetry and its majot poets:

Introduction: At the accession of Victoria the romantic movement had spent its force, William Wordsworth had written his best work the other romantic poets Coleridge, Keats, Shelly and Byron had passed away and for a time no new development was apparent in English poetry died with the romanticists.But Victorian age has produced two great Tennyson and Robert Browning who led English poetry in different direction.

                        A study of all the writers of Victorian period revels some general characteristics like literature in this age has come vety close to daily life reflecting its practical problems and progress. The Tendency of Victorian literature is strongly ethical all the great poets,novelists and essayists of the age are  moral teachers. The romantic poet advocated ‘Art for Art’s sake’ while most of the Victorian poets supported ‘Art for Morality sake’ poets like Browning , Matthew Arnold used poetry to improve the society.

                       It is also fact about Victorian poetry that it is serious in tone. It changed its mood and turned to be realistic from the romantic. Some of the Elegies of Tennyson in ‘In Memoriam’ express the grief of his Heart.

                      Thomas Hardy expresses a gloomy picture of evening ‘Darkling Thrush’. The English poetry comes out from intoxication of romance of the earlier Age.It is rightly commented by scholar that :

“That great Victorian poets lacked the fire and position which we find in the poets of Romantic Revival”

The great Victorian poets are undoubledly Tennyson, Browning and Arnold and each in his own way was influenced by the masters of the romantic age.Early Tennyson was very powerfully under the influence of Keats and in certain respects he excelled. Some poems of Tennyson are

Ø  ‘Mariana’

Ø  ‘The Lotus Eaters’

Ø  ‘In Memoriam- A collection of poems’

In Memoriam’ is one of the most remarkable contribution to English poetry.His ‘Merlin and Gleam’ finds in it a suggestion of spirit of the poets whole life,

            ‘Oh young Mariner

‘You  from the Heaven

Under the sea cliff

You that are watching’

Robert Browning also represents Victorian poetry. He is master of Dramatic Monologue. His famous works of this from of poetry is ‘A grammarians’ . He supports ‘Arts for Morality sake’ ideology. Some.Some of his famous works are:

‘Men and women’

Dramatic Lyric’

Pippa Passes’

‘Pippa Passes’ is Browning immortal song that within eight lines expresses of na innocent girl pippa.Other remarkable poets of this age are Mrs. Browning ,William Morris, Swinburne, Robert Bridge, Kipling, Thomas Hardy etc.

Conclusion:

Victorian period was the most fertile and creative period for English novel. It spread the popularity of novel to every corner of the society. We can classify that Victorian age gifted some leading poets as well as representatives of novel who possess unique position in the History of English Literature.It is commented that Dickens’s ‘Pickwick Papers’ was at a time on the second highest position in selling after the Bible. On the whole the period looked forwards rather than backwards. Therefore the Victorian period has its own place in the world of Literature.