Transcript Victorian Age

Victorian Age
Victorian Era
The Victorian era is generally agreed to stretch
through the reign of Queen Victoria (1837-1901). It
was a tremendously exciting period when many
artistic styles, literary schools, as well as, social,
political and religious movements flourished. It
was a time of prosperity, broad imperial
expansion, and great political reform. It was also a
time, which today we associate with "prudishness"
and "repression". Without a doubt, it was an
extraordinarily complex age, that has sometimes
been called the Second English Renaissance. It is,
however, also the beginning of Modern Times.
http://www.victoriaspast.com/FrontPorch/victorianera.htm
Victorian Women
A lady should be quiet in her manners, natural and
unassuming in her language, careful to wound no one’s
feelings, but giving generously and freely from the treasures of
her pure mind to her friends. Scorning no one openly, she
should feel gentle pity for the unfortunate, the inferior and the
ignorant, at the same time carrying herself with an innocence
and single heartedness which disarms ill nature, and wins
respect and love from all.
Etiquette of dress for the proper lady.
The full dinner dress for guests admits of great splendor. It may
be of any thick texture of silk or velvet for winter or light rich
goods for summer, and should be long and sweeping. The fan
should be perfect in its way, and the gloves should be quite
fresh. Diamonds are used in broaches, pendants, earrings and
bracelets. All the light neutral tints, and black, dark blue,
purple, dark green, garnet, brown and fawn are suited for
dinner wear.
http://www.victorianstation.com/lifestylemenu.htm
Victorian Men
He acts kindly from the impulse of his kind heart.
He is brave, because, with a conscience void of offence,
he has nothing to fear.
He is never embarrassed, for he respects himself and is
profoundly conscious of right intentions..
He opposes without bitterness and yields without admitting
defeat.
He is never arrogant, never weak.
He bears himself with dignity, but never haughtily.
To superiors he is respectful without servility; to equals
courteous; to inferiors’ kind.
He carries himself with grace in all places, is easy but
never familiar, genteel without affection.
He unites gentleness of manner with firmness of mind.
He commands with mild authority, and asks favors with
grace and assurance.
Behavior of a Lady out in public
The true lady walks the street, wrapped in a mantle of proper
reserve, so impenetrable that insult and coarse familiarity shrink
from her, while she, at all times, carries with her a congenial
atmosphere which attracts all, and puts all at their ease
A lady walks quietly through the streets, seeing and hearing nothing
that she ought not to, recognizing acquaintances with a courteous
bow, and friends with words of greeting. She is always unobtrusive,
never talks loudly, or laughs boisterously, or does anything to attract
the attention of the passers-by. She walks along in her own quiet,
lady-like way, and by her preoccupation is secure from any
annoyance. A true lady in the street, as in the parlor is modest,
discreet, kind and obliging.
It is proper that the lady should first recognize the gentleman. A
gentleman will never fail to bow in return to a lady; but a lady may
not feel at liberty to return a gentleman’s bow, which places him in a
rather unpleasant position. Therefore, a lady should give the first
smile or bow. She must refrain, at all times, from using the
gentleman’s Christian name.
Behavior of a gentleman out in public
A real gentleman never swears or talks
uproariously. He should never fail to raise his hat
politely to an acquaintance of either sex. If he
should bump into someone or step upon a lady’s
dress he must "beg their pardon", and at no time
should he lose his temper nor attract attention by
excited conversation.
It is proper to offer a lady his arm, particularly in
the evening and it should always be the right arm.
People passing should observe the law of "turn to
the right" and in this way the lady would not be
jostled. It is always proper for a gentleman walking
alone to give the lady or a gentleman with a lady,
the inside of the walk.
Women’s Rights
Women were denied the right to vote or hold
political office throughout the period, but gradually
won significant rights such as custody of minor
children and the ownership of property in
marriage. By the end of Victoria’s reign, women
could take degrees at twelve
universities. Hundreds of thousands of workingclass women labored at factory jobs under
appalling conditions, and many were driven into
prostitution. While John Stuart Mill argued that the
“nature of women” was an artificial thing, most
male authors preferred to claim that women had a
special nature fitting them for domestic duties.
http://www.wwnorton.com/college/english/nael/victorian/review/summary.htm#5
Victorian Courtship
http://www.victoriaspast.com/Courtshi
pdance/courtshipdance.html
Oscar Wilde
Born 1854 in Dublin
Received undergraduate education at Trinity
College in Dublin
Was able to attend college because his father was
a widely known surgeon in Dublin
Went on to grad school in Oxford- Magdalen
College in 1874
1884- married Constance Lloyd and by 1886 had
two sons
1889 wrote many plays and poetry; had written
Picture of Dorian Gray- most widely acclaimed
novel
1895- wrote The Importance of Being Earnest; it
was to premiered on Feb 14, 1895
Wilde had been having an affair with Lord
Alfred Douglas who he had fallen deeply in
love with; Douglas’s father, the Marquess
of Queensbury was against his son’s
relationship with Wilde
Marquess went to Wilde’s premier with the
intent of calling him out in front of the
audience; he was banned from the door as
Wilde had heard of his intent
Instead, Marquess went to Wilde’s club
and left a note reading “Oscar Wilde
Posing as Somdomite”—he spelled it
wrong!!!
Wilde had charges brought against Marquess for libel
They went to trial where the defense attorney gathered houseboys who
testified to Wilde’s acts of homosexuality; the charges were dropped
against the Marquess of Queensbury
The judge turned around to charge Wilde with homosexuality as it was
illegal in England at the time
Up until1828, homosexuality was a crime punishable by death; after
that it was just a convictable offense
Wilde’s first trial ended in a hung jury; the second ended with his
conviction
He was sentenced to two years in a hard labor prison where he walked
on a treadmill for six hours per day
He was released in 1897; moved to France and died there in 1900
The Importance of Being Earnest closed within 100 days because of all
the negative publicity surrounding Wilde at the time
The Importance of Being Earnest
Wilde’s plays offered audiences a
fresh contrast to the somber tones of
the Victorian dramas that emphasized
proper manners and rigid morals. He
was anything by rigid and went
against the norms of traditional
Victorian society.
Things to remember
Typically, fashionable society in the 19th
century placed great importance on family
background, rank, financial status,
manners and morals. The Importance of
Being Earnest is a satirical look at values
and concerns of the segment of society
that Wilde once called “the beautiful
people.” The characters are usually
stereotypes, or simplified examples of
different traits or qualities.
Characters:
John/Jack Worthing:
Algernon Moncrieff:
Rev. Canon Chasuble:
Merriman:
Lane:
Lady Bracknell:
Gwendolen Fairfax:
Cecily Cardew:
Miss Prism:
Justice of the Peace
Gwendolyn’s cousin
“Friend” to Miss Prism
A butler
A manservant
Mother to Gwendolyn; aunt to
Algernon
Mr. Worthing’s love interest
Mr. Moncrief’s love interest;
ward to Mr. Worthing
A Governess/Tutor to Cecily
As you read
What message is the author conveying
about:
Aristocracy
Love
Marriage
Men
Women
Manners
Literary Works
Also, record who says the following
aphorisms in each act. It should give you
some insight to the above ideas.