Life in the Late Victorian Age Society in the time of

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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.