English Literature in the Victorian Era - 2737 Words

Im no lunatic man, Im a sane man fighting for his soul this quote from Bram Stoker’s- Dracula, illustrates and foreshadows that in the Victorian era, a quest for meaning was seen by the majority of society as ‘lunacy’, however the characters that Stoker uses, are represented ‘sane’, suggesting Stoker’s encouragement of a quest for meaning and purpose in the Victorian era of increasing uncertainty. Along with Stoker, Charles Dickens and Lord Alfred Tennyson also address the individual’s pursuit for meaning and purpose, linking this idea specifically with themes of capitalism, class and gender inequality, corruption, freedom and oppression; which I will be using to comparing and contrasting the writers, closely analysing the driving†¦show more content†¦Moreover from a Marxist perspective, stokers demonstration of Draculas pursuit to subject London to claim the blood that would maintain his life can be interpreted from a Marxist p oint of view as the upper class exploiting the working class to maintain capitalism within society. In contrast with Dickens portal of Bounderby in hard times he shares similar qualities in comparison with Dracula - using his power and status as an advantage of mistreating his workers, where he views them as hands, undermining them subsequently because of their working class status. Draculas castle and Bounderbys bank are the motif of their power and status, these are Stokers and Dickens portrayal of their embodiment of capitalism. These writers illustrate how much power Dracula and Bounderby had upon society to illustrate the impact capitalism bought upon society and the exploitation they inflicted upon the working class. Dracula’s embodiment of capitalism also ironically shares similar traits to and, mirrors the decline of the British Empire and the greed they had for power, their immoral work of colonising half of the world is almost as equivalent with Dracula’s con stant thirst for power, where being content is not an option for both Dracula and the British Empire. Additionally, In comparison to the character of Bounderby a prime example of discontent is highlighted within the novel of ‘Hard Times’ in chapter 8- where Bounderby createsShow MoreRelatedCompare And Contrast Different Literature Periods1452 Words   |  6 PagesEnglish Literature Periods Literature by definition according to Oxford dictionary is the written works, especially those considered of superior or lasting artistic merit. Literature has classified into several periods. Which has affected by the surrounding events in the society in each period like economic levels, war and peace. Literature is considering as a human creation is differing from the other because of the changing in the society and language development in every period. This essayRead MoreGender Inequalities in Victorian England: Robert Browning’s Porphyria’s Lover984 Words   |  4 Pages end in cruel, cold-blooded murder? Good evening and welcome to Poetry Break Down, I’m your host Mary Doe. Tonight, we will delve into the fascinating world of classic Victorian literature. Under the microscope is canonized poet, the late Robert Browning. Browning’s poetry was a reflection of his life and times living in Victorian England. Later on this evening we will analyze just how his times came to play a major role in some of his greatest works, in particular his revered poem Porphyria’s LoverRead MoreGothic Novel Essay949 Words   |  4 Pagesliterary defined as an English genre of fiction which came into action and became popular in 18th to early 19th century, widely characterized by atmosphere of horror, fear, death, gloom, darkness ,mystery and romantic elements ,such as nature individuality and high emotions. The t erm gothic actually originated as to criticise the architecture and art of that period which was dark, decaying and dismal. The term was embraced by artist and was implemented in fictional literature because of the similarityRead MoreEnglish Language And Composition Of The Victorian Era1320 Words   |  6 PagesMichael Linares Ms. Sipars AP English Language and Composition 15 September 2015 Response #1 England’s Victorian Era was a very influential and interesting Era that took place during the time that Queen Victoria was the Queen of England. The Victorian Era started around 1830 and lasted up until the start of the 20th Century. During this Era England became very powerful. Many amazing masterpieces were created by great artists like Oscar Wilde and Charles Dickens. The three class system which weRead MoreBrowning And Morality : The Victorian Era976 Words   |  4 PagesBrowning and Morality: The Victorian Era The purpose of this prospectus is to identify the thesis and research goals, explain the findings of a literature search, and explain how they are intended to be applied. Having chosen from the list of suggested topics, the decided thesis will be on the topic of the importance of morality and how it relates to the Victorian era, specifically morality’s role Victorian literature. It is commonly held that the Victorian era can be characterized by the shock experiencedRead MoreEssay on Victorian Age1258 Words   |  6 Pages The Year 1837 was very significant. It was not only the year that Queen Victoria acceded the throne, but also the year that a new literary age was coined. The Victorian Age, more formally known, was a time of great prosperity in Great Britains literature. The Victorian Age produced a variety of changes. Political and social reform produced a variety of reading among all classes. The lower-class became more self-conscious, the middle class more powerful and the rich became more vulnerable. The novelsRead MoreCharacteristics Of Victorian Literature1437 Words   |  6 Pages Are the Victorians Romantics? Characteristics of Victorian literature are largely artists that are inspired by both the art that came before them and the event that occurred during the time that they were working. Victorian literature is largely characterized by the struggle of working people and the triumph of right over wrong, which do in part can be hard to decipher at times. This means that a piece of work can seem Victoria, but may not have been written in the Victorian era, or something canRead MoreThe Victorian Era810 Words   |  3 PagesSiedell said, â€Å"In such a society as the Victorians’, when public society is so stifling, steam is naturally going to be driven underground.† The reform of the Victorian era, a time in England of refinement and high decorum surrounding the years of Queen Victoria’s reign, did not produce revolution but the opposite: stagnation. And so at this time in England there were ingredients present to create a real revolution and bring a dismantling of t he Victorian spirit, but they were underground and silentRead MoreCharles Dickens Biography1626 Words   |  7 Pageschildhood corruption and portrays himself as his young, mischievous, and perplexed characters Oliver Twist and David Copperfield. He proves that he is a product of the Victorian era as he brings attention to the childhood cruelty, the less fortunate in an English society, and the unwealthy dysfunctional families of the early Victorian time period. Charles Dickens reflects these and other issues as he brings to life the realism of writing. While others were writing about the way things should be, ratherRead MoreGender Roles Of Female Characters1479 Words   |  6 PagesThroughout the eras, literature has mirrored the social changes taking place in English society specifically in regards to gender roles of female characters. The Elizabethan era, which lasted from 1558 to 1603, is often referred to as the golden age by historians where many transitions in English socie ty regarding marriage and gender took place (Ivic 110). It was a time in which wives were viewed as the property of their husbands (Ivic 110). However, every woman was expected to marry and be dependent