Estimated Reading Time: 7 min
Q. What are the characteristics of a Victorian novel? Discuss.
In the mid-19th century, Victorian literature emerged during the reign of Queen Victoria in Britain, spanning from 1837 to 1901. A unique set of characteristics marked this literary era, reflecting the social, political, and cultural changes of the time.
Characteristics of the Victorian Novel
- Realism
- Morality and Didacticism
- Social Critique
- Idealism vs. Realism
- Industrialization and Its Discontents
- Psychological Character Development
- The Woman Question
- Narrative Experimentation
- The Supernatural and Gothic
- Attention to Detail
1- Realism
Victorian literature often shows real people and real-life situations. Writers like Charles Dickens did not shy away from the grim parts of city life and the struggles of people experiencing poverty.
For example, in Oliver Twist, Dickens portrays child labor, crime, and hunger in the London underworld. Similarly, in Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thackeray, characters like Becky Sharp are depicted with flaws and ambitions, reflecting the complexities of human nature.
It made the stories relatable. The focus was on making everything seem as true to life as possible, from the dialogue to the settings. This realism helped to highlight the social issues of the time, pushing readers to see the need for change.
2- Morality and Didacticism
Victorian novels are often aimed at teaching readers right from wrong. The stories were like lessons on how to live a good life. The writers of that time believed books could make people better.
They filled their stories with clear morals to guide readers towards good behaviour. For example, Charles Dickens’ novel A Christmas Carol shows the character Ebenezer Scrooge transforming a miserly, selfish man to a generous and compassionate one.
Likewise, George Eliot’s Silas Marner demonstrates the redemptive power of love and community. Charlotte Yonge’s The Heir of Redclyffe also emphasized Christian morals and virtues, shaping the moral outlook of many young readers.
It reflected the era’s values where society expected everyone to know and show good morals. Books were not just for entertainment; they were tools to help build character and reinforce society’s rules on proper behavior.
3- Social Critique
Victorian literature often used stories to point out what was wrong with society. Authors like Thomas Hardy and Elizabeth Gaskell wrote about how unfair life was for people experiencing poverty, how children had to work, and how the class system stopped people from moving up in the world.
These books opened people’s eyes to the problems around them and made them think about change. The writers were not afraid to show the ugly side of their world, and they hoped their books would make people want to fix these issues.
This way, literature was not just for reading pleasure but also a mirror showing society its flaws, hoping to push for a better future for everyone. The following writers were doing this.
Charles Dickens: His novels, including “Oliver Twist” and “Hard Times,” highlight social injustices and the plight of people experiencing poverty in the Industrial Age.
Charlotte Brontë: Her novel “Jane Eyre” addresses the constraints on women and class inequalities, offering insights into the status of governesses and the limited autonomy of women.
George Eliot: Through works like “Middlemarch,” she explores issues such as the role of women in society and the need for social reform.
Elizabeth Gaskell: Her novels, like “North and South,” examine the class divide and the impact of industrialization on workers and their communities.
Thomas Hardy: In novels such as “Tess of the d’Urbervilles,” Hardy critiques societal norms and the injustices faced by individuals, particularly women, in rural England.
4- Idealism vs. Realism
Victorian novels often mixed real life with a touch of hope. Writers showed the world as it was, with all its problems, but they also liked to add some idealism.
They wrote about the truth – the harsh lives of people, the unfairness they faced – but they also believed things could improve. Many stories ended with the good guys winning or feeling that justice would be served.
Victorian novels often mixed truth with hope. For example, in Dickens’ David Copperfield, despite the hardships, the hero achieves personal and professional success.
Similarly, Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre combines realistic struggles with an idealistic ending, where Jane overcomes adversity and achieves love and independence.
This mix made the books not just a mirror to the real world but also a picture of what could be. Readers got to see life’s hardships but also walked away, hoping that things could improve.
5- Industrialisation and Its Discontents
Victorian literature often reflected on the significant changes brought by industrialization. Factories sprang up, cities swelled, and life sped up. This new world made some people rich, but others suffered in poor working conditions and crowded slums.
The rapid rise of factories and urban growth deeply influenced Victorian novels. In Dickens’ Hard Times, the grim industrial city of Coketown symbolizes the loss of humanity in the industrial system.
Elizabeth Gaskell’s North and South contrasts the traditional rural South with the industrial North, showing both the opportunities and hardships of industrialization.
However, they also worried about what was lost: green fields turned to smokestacks, and simple village life faded away. They used their stories to ask if all this progress was worth the cost.
6- Psychological Character Development
Victorian novels often took readers deep into the minds of their characters. These characters grow and change throughout the story, making them feel like real people.
A character might start selfish and learn to be kind, or might be timid and become brave. Writers like Charlotte Brontë in “Jane Eyre” showed how a lonely girl becomes a strong woman.
George Eliot, in “Middlemarch,” traced the inner lives of a whole town, showing how people’s hopes and mistakes shape their lives.
These stories did not just tell what happened on the outside; they also explored what was going on inside people’s heads. This way, readers understand the characters’ thoughts and feelings, making the stories more meaningful.
7- The Woman Question
In Victorian times, writers started to question the role of women in society. They asked if women should have the same rights as men, like voting, owning property, or getting an education.
Novels from this time often show women trying to find their place in a world that limits them. For example, in “Pride and Prejudice” by Jane Austen, the heroine, Elizabeth Bennet, fights for her right to marry for love, not just money.
George Eliot’s characters, like Dorothea in “Middlemarch,” look for more than just a good marriage; they want to make a difference in the world. These books opened people’s eyes to the idea that women have their minds and should be able to use them, just like men.
8- Narrative Experimentation
Victorian writers were creative in their storytelling. They did not just go from start to finish. They mixed things up. Some used letters or diary entries to build the tale.
Victorian writers experimented with storytelling forms.
Bram Stoker’s Dracula uses letters, diary entries, and newspaper clippings.
Wilkie Collins‘ The Moonstone shifts perspectives through multiple narrators.
Dickens‘ Great Expectations uses Pip’s retrospective, sometimes unreliable narration.
Others, like Wilkie Collins in “The Moonstone,” had different people take turns to tell their version of the story. This way, readers get many angles on the same event.
These methods made reading more engaging, like a mystery where pieces must fit together to see the whole story.
9- The Supernatural and Gothic
Victorian novels often mixed in spooky, mysterious elements. This style is called Gothic. It includes old, dark houses, ghosts, and strange happenings.
Dracula (Stoker) brought horror and vampirism into mainstream fiction.
Emily Brontë‘s Wuthering Heights blends romance with haunting Gothic elements like ghosts and wild moors.
Sheridan Le Fanu’s Carmilla explored the supernatural and sexuality through vampire lore.
10- Attention to Detail
Victorian literature is known for its meticulous attention to detail. Writers of this era painted vivid pictures of people, places, and things in their stories.
They described everything in great detail, from the characters’ appearances and emotions to the settings and even the smallest details.
Dickens‘ Bleak House captures everything from foggy London streets to the overwhelming piles of legal documents.
Eliot‘s Middlemarch gives a panoramic, detailed portrayal of provincial life.
Anthony Trollope‘s The Warden meticulously depicts the church, law, and daily social interactions.
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