Victorian Period
The Victorian period is the era in which England was under the reigns of Queen Victoria (1837-1901). The most important aspect to the Victorian period was the change it brought in both political and economical terms ,and a change that was made in social reforms, everyday life and society ,as well as in literature.
For some, the changes taking place in the world meant progress, and were a source of hope and optimism, which developed into the Industrial revolution. This time was significant as it was the first time there was some kind of middle ground, this was as before there had only been rich and poor no in between .
For society it meant a time of social reforms, there had always been strong traditional values and religious views, but this era called for a time where religion came into question, Charles Darwin challenged the bible in his 'Theory of the evolution of man'. Similarly, there was male dominance in terms of what was to be expected of men and women. Married women were often expected to dress a certain way and stay at home looking after the house and children. However, there was also confusion in men's expectations of women, they wanted a good respectable woman, but also wanted an opposite kind of women- a woman of their pure desire.
For writers and thinkers, the inequality present in Victorian society was a kind of illness that would sooner or later come to a tipping point ,and so many saw it as their duty to speak out against the injustices of this new and scary world.
For some, the changes taking place in the world meant progress, and were a source of hope and optimism, which developed into the Industrial revolution. This time was significant as it was the first time there was some kind of middle ground, this was as before there had only been rich and poor no in between .
For society it meant a time of social reforms, there had always been strong traditional values and religious views, but this era called for a time where religion came into question, Charles Darwin challenged the bible in his 'Theory of the evolution of man'. Similarly, there was male dominance in terms of what was to be expected of men and women. Married women were often expected to dress a certain way and stay at home looking after the house and children. However, there was also confusion in men's expectations of women, they wanted a good respectable woman, but also wanted an opposite kind of women- a woman of their pure desire.
For writers and thinkers, the inequality present in Victorian society was a kind of illness that would sooner or later come to a tipping point ,and so many saw it as their duty to speak out against the injustices of this new and scary world.
Christina RossettiAlfred Tennyson |
(1830 - 1894)
Wrote in the 19th century, Rossetti was born in London in 1830 into a family of artists, scholars and writers. Her father was an exiled Italian revolutionary and poet and her brothers were founding members of art movement the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood. In 1862 she published her first full collection, Goblin Market and Other Poems. A sensuous fairy story Goblin Market is a tale of repressed sexuality and sisterhood. Her concern with female fellowship was played out in real life as Rossetti devoted ten years as a volunteer at St Mary Magdalene's penitentiary for prostitutes and unmarried mothers in Highgate. She was highly religious and religious themes dominate her work but Rossetti never preaches, instead explores the tensions between earthly passions and divine love. She died in 1894. |
(1809 - 1892)
Born after the French revolution, Tennyson's father, the Reverend George Tennyson, tutored his sons in classical and modern languages. In the 1820's his father began to suffer mental breakdowns that were caused by alcoholism. One of his brothers had violent arguments with his father and was later confined to an insane asylum, and another became an opium addict. Tennyson attend Trinity College, Cambridge. He attracted the attention of the “Apostles," an undergraduate literary club led by Arthur Hallam, who became his best friend but his sudden death in 1833 greatly affected the young Tennyson. The long elegy In Memoriam and many of Tennyson’s other poems are tributes to Hallam. He married Emily Sellwood. They had two sons, Hallam and Lionel. Tennyson became one of the most famous poets of his era, his famous piece being 'The lady of shallot'. He died in 1892. |