Il periodo Vittoriano

The Victorian Period 1832 – 1901

Dickens, “A Tale of Two Cities” refers to an age of paradoxes. He addresses the Romantic period, but all he said is true also for the Victorian period: foolishness, belief-doubt, light-darkness, hope-despair. Tension!

Transitional period

A lot of changes occur. People leave something behind, but at the same time, they don’t know where to go. Changes in the landscape become more and more evident. London grew from 2 million people to 6.5 million in 1901!

Contrast: Past vs. Present

The present is industrialized and modern but faces many problems connected to it. The train exemplifies the speed of connections, offering advantages but also disadvantages such as pollution. In 1830, the Liverpool – Manchester railway opened.

Britain stood as a colonial power, facilitating the exchange of goods between the motherland and its colonies. London showcased the wealth versus city slums, representing poverty. “The White Man’s Burden” by Kipling celebrates imperial power.

A new movement against slavery, known as abolitionism, leads to the abolition of slavery. The concept of the New Woman versus the woman angel of the house becomes prominent. The new woman is a militant, active woman, who acts to gain her rights and refuses to be described as a woman angel of the house. Anne Finch's works anticipate these battles.

Sexual repression versus prostitution highlights sexual instincts as something to be repressed. Arnold, in the preface to “Poems”, describes the Victorian age as “the dialogue of the mind with itself”, indicating a period of tension where the human mind interrogates itself. Hardy described the Victorian Age as an age of restlessness (irrequietezza).

Reaction and Solutions

How should men react? Every artist proposes their personal solution and point of view. The Victorian Period is very post-romantic, indicating there’s not a violent change.

Historical Context

• 1832: The 1^st Reform Bill (followed by the 2^nd and 3^rd), allowing the middle class the right to vote.
• 1833: Abolition of slavery.
• 1837: Queen Victoria ascends the throne.
• 1838: Chartist Movement (till ’48), a working-class movement protesting for more political rights.
• Installation of the Crystal Palace, Hyde Park (1851: The Great Exhibition), showcasing the empire.
• 1875: Trade Union Act.
• 1876: Queen Victoria becomes Empress of India.
• 1901: Death of Queen Victoria, marking the end of the Victorian age and the opening of the Edwardian Era.

Victoria: The Matriarch of Europe

Mother of 9 children and a good wife, she symbolizes the woman angel of the house. But, she also wielded power!

The Women Question

Recognition of women's rights involved several steps:

• 1857: The divorce and matrimonial causes act.