Transcript Life in the Late Victorian Age Society in the time of
Life in the Late Victorian Age
Society in the time of Oscar Wilde
Victorian Life
• Victorian life was relatively structured.
• Social classes were well-defined.
– Presumably all individuals accepted their station in life and were happy within their level of society.
– When an individual did move outside his/her class, he/she was generally shunned.
– Even if you earned money, you would not necessarily be accepted by upper social strata.
Victorian Society
• Victorian society was democratic, but featured many more restrictions than modern America.
• Lower classes actually had
more
freedom.
– People perceived the lower class as merely existing to serve higher classes.
– Society frequently ignored them.
Young Men in the Victorian Age
• Young men in the upper classes received an education, but spent much of their life in leisure pursuits.
• First sons would inherit the family wealth, and had little to worry about.
• Second and subsequent sons could choose to go into the service (army) or to become a clergyman.
– These were respectable positions, but lower on the social scale.
Young Women in the Victorian Age
• They were encouraged to marry.
• Sometimes had an inheritance, but rarely controlled their own finances.
• Ladies were permitted to enjoy pleasurable pursuits: parties, balls (galas), horseback riding, croquet.
• They were allowed to go to the beach, but they would need to wear very conservative bathing suits…
Victorian Bathing Suits
Young Girls in the Victorian Age
• Young girls were taught to supervise a household.
• Daily routine included consulting with housekeeper and cook and planning meals.
• Free time activities: – Painting china, needlework, music, literature
Four O
’
Clock Tea Time
• A daily routine that became a tradition.
• Everyone stopped all activities for tea time.
– Similar to a siesta in Europe, South America, and Central America.
• Tea was usually poured from a silver or china tea pot.
• Sandwiches and sweets (biscuits, tarts) were served.
• An important social interruption.
• Dinner was not usually served until 8:00 pm.
Tea Time in America
• Do you believe a tradition like this would have any place or advantage in contemporary America?
• Is tea time observed anywhere on this continent?
• Do Americans have a substitute for this custom?
Evening Entertainment
• Evenings included a formal dinner (8 PM).
• Families then might move into the Drawing Room to enjoy musical entertainment, provided by younger girls in the family.
• Gentlemen might retire to play billiards.
• On festive occasions, families might play games or have dances at the country estate.
Homes in the Victorian Era
• Some members of the upper class kept an apartment “ in town ” (London) • If they did not own there, they rented during the “ season ” so that the young girls could be presented to society and the young men could find brides.
• These apartments would be called “ flats, ” which is the English word for “ floor.
”
After the Victorian Era
• For the upper classes, this style of living continued until WWII.
• After WWII, social structures underwent great changes and the balance of power among nations shifted.
• Despite changes in home life and industry, the Victorian tradition of tea time can still be enjoyed in homes, hotels, and parks.