While the Victorian era was ruled with the same strictness and prudishness that Queen Victoria was known for it was a stark contrast from the free and loving society that existed during the previous era or Romanticism. The Victorian era had little ideological reasoning, but instead took a more laid-back, detached view on things. In addition, the Victorian era has condescending overtones in every aspect from the people to the literature. These qualities contrast against the ideological standpoints that were taken for everything in the Romantic era. The Romantic era cultivated self-expression and even encouraged it.
The complete difference between these two eras is well seen in the literature from the era. In Romantic era literature such as Frankenstein by Mary Shelley there is a mysterious nature, but at the same time one of self-discovery as the era itself demonstrated. The literature of the Romantic era tries to delve into human nature and the spirit behind oneself. As the era shifted the aura of the literature shifted as well, instead as the people of the time became much more condescending and prudish the characters in plays, such as The Importance of Being Ernest by Oscar Wilde, did too. The Victorian era rejected the ideas of humanity and instead took on a snobbish attitude towards others, as is demonstrated in this literature.
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