In the Romantic Era mysticism and dark Gothic things were subjects of art and were part of everyday life. While in the Victorian era industrialization was starting in Britain which caused some of the lower classes were forced t live in slums and abandoned old houses. This created a greater and more obvious division between the upper and lower classes. Status is greatly valued in the Victorian culture. People of the upper class had to act so and keep their reputation strong so that they may have influence in the aristocracy. In the play The Importance of Being Ernest by Oscar Wilde it creates this idea that the upper class had a harder life than the lower class because they had to worry about their reputation, how they were dressed, and how people perceive them. The character Algernon is over educated which causes him trouble in finding a job but must depend on his Aunt and must follow her every word in order to keep her support of him. In every situation he is overdressed because he must dress nice to fulfill his upper class appearance. The upper class of the Victorian era always was forced to keep their clothes proper and their pockets full with money because as a result of industrialization and the prosperous economy ready money was heavily valued. This contrasts with the Romantic Era because that was an era of free expression of the human spirit in which people came more in touch with themselves and the natural world around them. The Victorian era changed this because as industrialization started the focus on nature disappeared and as the class separation became more apparent morals and proper behavior were valued which in most cases put an end to free expression of ones feelings.
Wylie Period 1 Team 5
Bennett Kopperud
Nick Hudson
Evelyn Ashleigh
Anne Kitchens
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ReplyDeleteYour analysis of the causes of the prudery and propriety found in the Victorian Era is very accurate. The rise of industrialism did cause increase the size of the gap between the upper and lower classes. Your explanation of why this era was a reaction to the previous one is a bit lacking however. You accurately pinpoint the effects but not the cause which is the major point of the synthesis question. Additionally your answer has errors in several different spots. To name a few: To was mis-spelled as t, The word came in the second to last sentence should be replaced with the word became. In general you synthesis was a good attempt to answer the question. Good luck on the next one.
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