L'era Vittoriana: sfondo storico e sociale, Appunti di Inglese

Scarica L'era Vittoriana: sfondo storico e sociale e più Appunti in PDF di Inglese solo su Docsity! VICTORIAN AGE Historical and social background The Victorian era is the period defined by the 64-year reign of queen Victoria (1837–1901). During this long reign, the country prospered more than ever, acquiring both power and wealth. Industrial and technological advance During this era, Britain was transformed from a predominantly rural, agricultural society into an urban, industrial one. It was a time of technological, industrial and scientific progress. This was mainly due to the industrial revolution and the expanding colonial empire. The great railway boom was both a consequence and a cause of industrialization, and completely transformed London’s transport system. Also, the invention of the telegraph and the introduction of the penny postal system made an important contribution to communications. Urban problems and reforms For the first time, in 1851 the urban population exceeded the rural population. However, the rapid growth of the population also brought a series of problems, such as poor sanitation, an increase in urban poverty and social injustice. The wealthiest classes, on the other hand, tried to distinguish themselves by adapting rigid standards of respectability, virtue, ethics and religion. To support the working class, a series of reforms was introduced. The Reform bill, in 1832, for example, only gave the possibility to vote to the middle class. It was only with the Second Reform bill of 1884 that universal male suffrage was obtained. Moreover, the factory act of 1833 improved the working conditions, while the education act of 1870 made elementary education compulsory. Trade unions were legalised in 1875. The metropolitan police force was founded. Politics In politics, the Whigs evolved into the Liberal party, represented by Gladstone, while the Tories became the conservative party, represented by Disraeli. The Independent Labour Party was formed out of trade unions in 1892. Literary background The main genre of the Victorian age was the novel. There were two main opposing trends: ● Victorian compromise= The literature of this phase reflected the general belief in the goodness of scientific progress, of human nature and of social and economic development. The novels were characterized by a realistic representation of the society and its problems, with an adventurous tone and a moral aim. ● Anti-victorian reaction= The literature of this phase criticized the values and the contradictions of this era. The authors belonging to this phase were influenced by Darwin’s theory of evolution (individual characters influenced by the environment, by the historical moment and by hereditary traits), and by Positivism (scientific precision in describing social and psychological aspects) The age of fiction Changes in class structure saw the novel rise in popularity. As the middle class expanded and more people became literate, the popularity of the novel exploded. Also, the number of people who could afford books increased as a result of the Industrial Revolution and the expansion of newspapers. Novels were often published in instalments. This form of literature used journalistic techniques in order to make the literature something closer to real life, with facts and general stereotypes of human nature. Authors tried to make the readers reflect on the complexity of the world in which they live. The story is usually told by a 3rd person omniscient narrator. Those novels also had a moral aim, the narrator should act as a moral guide, while he analyses the Psychology of the characters. The novelist had to both entertain and teach his community of readers. Early Victorian Novelists The first phase of Victorian literature included the works of writers who used prose to make a realistic portrait of the society in which they lived. They used literature to instruct their readers and to make them aware of the social evils, but it was never radical criticism (they didn’t question the foundations of society). This ambivalent attitude is exactly what stands at the core of the ‘Victorian Compromise’. Charles Dickens The most representative Victorian writer. He was the first urban novelist, most of his novels are set in London. Furthermore, he used a realistic narration to depict the living conditions of the poor in Victorian England (e.g. workhouses, slums, orphanages) and often followed the life and adventures of a single character. Dickens’ novels are mainly tragicomic. Dickens’ humour was based on the creation of characters with some distinctive peculiarity of physical appearance, speech or gesture, and on the creation of comic situations. Oliver Twists, published between 1837 and 1839, marks the beginning of social criticism. Dickens shows sympathy with the oppressed and indignation against social injustice. His purpose was to denounce the social evils of the time and to make the readers aware of them (he believed in the ethical and political potential of literature). The novel tells the story of an orphaned boy, denouncing the cruelty of workhouses. He also wrote some coming of age novels, such as Great expectations (about the influence that sudden wealth can have on a young man’s moral growth) or David Copperfired. Dickens’ characters are often portrayed as caricatures embodying particular vices or virtues, rather than as real-life people with psychological depth. The Brontë sisters Three sisters, one more talented than the other, had great success in particular Emily (Wuthering Heights) and Charlotte (Jane Eyre). Once they started seeking publication, they were forced to use male pseudonyms in order to be published. Rather than focusing on social issues their works were concentrated on the world of passion and feelings. Their writings were inspired by their own personal experience as teachers, governesses etc., and it was characterized by a realism which was raw and uncomfortable, particularly in their depictions of drunkenness, adultery and cruelty. They also wrote in the first person from the point of view of the middle class. - Wuthering Heights: the story is focused on the impossible love between Heathcliff and Catherine, a young woman who was torn between passion and social conventions. There are different elements of the gothic novel and explored elements of human nature such as love, immortality and passion. Emily, through the character of Heathcliff (whom with his darkness and desire for revenge causes a chain reaction, trapping other characters into a sort of self-destructive spiral), shows the error of letting yourself go into the darkness of violence and revenge. - Jane Eyre is the story of a strong woman who fell in love with a mysterious man called Rochester, Jane managed to find happiness and marry him. The novel explores the theme of womanhood and opens a window on the dark sides of human personality. Charlotte provides a more tempered view of the darkness: it can come unintentionally from one’s experience. Stevenson Robert Louis Stevenson was born in Edinburgh in 1850. His health was not very good, so he stayed at home a lot, developing his love for reading. Stevenson, like many writers of his time, doubts the new ideals of civilisation and progress that the industrial and imperial expansion brought along; the newfound progress was accompanied by poverty, criminality, double moral standards and a growing sense of anxiety and pessimism. The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde Dr Jekyll is a respectable man who escapes from his rational identity through the use of a potion that turns him into a depraved being, Mr Hyde. The latter is driven by instinct and sensuality, and commits