The Victorian Novel and Social Commentary

The Victorian era represented the golden age of the novel, with literature serving as a powerful medium for social criticism.

Example: Charles Dickens' "Oliver Twist" exposed the harsh realities of workhouse conditions and criticized the Poor Laws.

Vocabulary: Omniscient narrator - A narrative technique where the storyteller has complete knowledge of all characters and events.

The Victorian novel became a crucial platform for addressing social issues:

• Authors often served as moral guides for readers
• Novels gained unprecedented popularity among the growing reading public
• Writers frequently addressed themes of social injustice and class inequality

The Victorian Age: Empire and Social Contrast

The Victorian Age, spanning Queen Victoria's 60-year reign, represented a period of unprecedented British imperial power and dramatic social transformation. The middle class particularly admired Victoria for her moral leadership and parliamentary mediation between the Whigs and Tories.

Highlight: Britain's colonial expansion reached across Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, and Hong Kong, driven by a belief in British cultural superiority.

The era witnessed remarkable progress in multiple spheres:

Example: Medical advances included the establishment of professional organizations and modern hospitals, while social services expanded to include water systems, paved roads, and gas lighting.

Definition: The Victorian social hierarchy consisted of three main classes: the traditional aristocracy (upper class), the increasingly powerful middle class, and the politically disenfranchised working class.

Quote: "If you are poor, it's your fault" - this reflected the prevalent Victorian attitude toward poverty.