Victorian Era Synthesis Ash. P3. T5

The Victorian Period was known for its tone of prudery and propriety within the literature and also this period was a clear reaction to the feeling and emotion of the Romantic Era. The Victorian Era was named after the Queen Victoria who pushed reforms to make the lives of Britons better. She was very prideful of her position and her characteristics. Because of that, people started to imitate her and then prudish behavior and sexual restraint became the sensibility of that era. The Reform Bill of 1832 drastically increased the political power of the middle class, which gave way to a new era and changed in culture. Although the industry and commerce flourished, this bill also takes power from the already politically weak lower class and eventually led them to large industrial cities where they lived in poor conditions. During the Romantic Era, society started to shift away from the logic and reasoning, for example, Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, talked about a completely fictional character and had a mysterious mood throughout the novel. Comparing to Victorian Era, Romantic Era had completely different view and value upon society. The ideas were basically opposite of each other, even though it all happened within 150 years. The writers during the Victorian era had a great influence on culture and especially literature, with the works from this era still being read and admired present day. A few writers are Charles Dickens, Charles Darwin, William Gladstone and Alfred Lord Tennyson. Charles Darwin, an English writer, wrote literature that any common man can relate to. A few of his writings consist about poverty and social stratification of society, while making claims of Anti-Semitism and racism. In conclusion, Victorian Era was clearly the reaction of the previous era.