Nineteenth Century Nineteenth Century LiteratureLiterature

Steam, Scribes & SexSteam, Scribes & Sex

““Nineteenth Century”Nineteenth Century” The chronology: 1801-1900The chronology: 1801-1900

– Mathematically correct, culturally and Mathematically correct, culturally and artistically unhelpful.artistically unhelpful.

The character and characteristic) of the The character and characteristic) of the period:period:

““The Victorian Age”The Victorian Age”

1837-1901, the years of the reign of 1837-1901, the years of the reign of Queen Victoria.Queen Victoria.– (1801-1836: “The Romantic Period”)(1801-1836: “The Romantic Period”)

The Romantics (to 1836)The Romantics (to 1836)

““the poets”the poets”

““O wind! O Time! O wind! O Time! Thou are fair and Thou are fair and full of my delight! full of my delight! How I love Thee!”How I love Thee!”

Lord Byron Lord Byron (“Mad, bad & (“Mad, bad &

dangerous to know”)dangerous to know”)

Queen Victoria: 1837 and 1897Queen Victoria: 1837 and 1897

Victoria the MatriarchVictoria the Matriarch

The Queen gave her force of character to The Queen gave her force of character to the Age; and the Age looked to its the Age; and the Age looked to its Matriarch for its character.Matriarch for its character.

Longman Anthology, p. xxvii and p.1099-Longman Anthology, p. xxvii and p.1099-1102.1102.– ““Victoria stood not only for England and Victoria stood not only for England and

Empire, but also for Duty, Family and Empire, but also for Duty, Family and Propriety.”Propriety.”

Queen Victoria in CanadaQueen Victoria in Canada

Canada is the Victorian colony.Canada is the Victorian colony.– 1867 is the year of our Confederation1867 is the year of our Confederation– Victoria’s father – the unlikeable Duke of Victoria’s father – the unlikeable Duke of

Kent – was in Canada from 1791 to 1802 Kent – was in Canada from 1791 to 1802 as Commander in Chief. Lived for twenty as Commander in Chief. Lived for twenty years with a French-Canadian mistress.years with a French-Canadian mistress.

– Victoria is still in Canada: Victoria, Victoria is still in Canada: Victoria, Alberta, New Westminster, Prince AlbertAlberta, New Westminster, Prince Albert

Literature of the AgeLiterature of the Age

Universal readership: Mass press and Universal readership: Mass press and mass literacy.mass literacy.

Major writers— such as Charles Dickens, Major writers— such as Charles Dickens, Alfred Tennyson, Rudyard Kipling—were in Alfred Tennyson, Rudyard Kipling—were in effect read by every man, woman and effect read by every man, woman and child in Britain.child in Britain.

No difference between genres of reading:No difference between genres of reading:– Novels, poetry, and prose essays were read Novels, poetry, and prose essays were read

indiscriminately for pleasure, instruction and indiscriminately for pleasure, instruction and argument. (Longman, p.xxiii)argument. (Longman, p.xxiii)

Age of Variety and ChangeAge of Variety and Change An almost impossible An almost impossible

variety of literary styles variety of literary styles and violence of change.and violence of change.– ““The novel” is, if not The novel” is, if not

invented, defined in invented, defined in the Victorian years.the Victorian years.

Age of Age of DarwinDarwin and and MarxMarx; of ; of Sherlock Sherlock HolmesHolmes and and Jack the Jack the RipperRipper..

Age of the ‘blood’ -Age of the ‘blood’ -Penny DreadfulsPenny Dreadfuls– 11stst comics & graphic comics & graphic

novelsnovels

Industrial RevolutionIndustrial Revolution UrbanisationUrbanisation Faith and DisbeliefFaith and Disbelief social upheaval of the social upheaval of the

Reform Bills (up to Reform Bills (up to 80% increase in 80% increase in eligible voters) leading eligible voters) leading to universal franchise to universal franchise by 1920.by 1920.

Age of steam and gas.Age of steam and gas. Suffragism (Longman Suffragism (Longman

p.1198)p.1198)

Victorian cultural coolVictorian cultural cool

I’ve lived to see Victorianism become I’ve lived to see Victorianism become cool:cool:– SteampunkSteampunk– ‘‘Sweeny Todd’Sweeny Todd’– From HellFrom Hell– League of Extraordinary GentlemenLeague of Extraordinary Gentlemen– ‘‘Steamboy’Steamboy’– Sherlock HolmesSherlock Holmes

Pop-culture fallacies of VictoriansPop-culture fallacies of Victorians

Misconceptions about Misconceptions about Victorian attitudes to Sex.Victorian attitudes to Sex.– A reflection of A reflection of our our Age’s Age’s

own neurosesown neuroses Victoria did Victoria did notnot say about say about

sexual intercourse to her sexual intercourse to her daughter, “shut your eyes daughter, “shut your eyes and think of England.”and think of England.”

Victorian ladies did Victorian ladies did notnot put put little covers over the legs little covers over the legs of their pianos.of their pianos.

Victorian ladies did Victorian ladies did notnot have to say “limb” instead have to say “limb” instead of “leg.”of “leg.”

The Victorians The Victorians diddid have the have the opposite erotic sensibility opposite erotic sensibility to our Ages.to our Ages.

We find (apparently) We find (apparently) eroticism in openness, eroticism in openness, offer and display.offer and display.

They found eroticism in They found eroticism in hiddenness, promise, the hiddenness, promise, the mock-forbidden.mock-forbidden.

This is not hypocrisy; it is a This is not hypocrisy; it is a shared social and cultural shared social and cultural understanding.understanding.