The Victorian Age, so-called after Queen Victoria, usually

covers in literature a period of time longer than the actual

reign of Queen Victoria(1837-1901), stretching from 1832, the
year of the first Reform Bill, to the death of Edward VII in
1910. In both cases, it is a long period of time and so it is
difficult to consider it as a single unit. The 60 years are usually
divided into three periods: a first period from 1837 to 1848, a
second period from 1848 to 1870 and the last one from 1870
to 1901. Early Victorians understood the importance of setting
their novels in their contemporary England because they
knew that the average Victorian reader expected to read a
realistic book with characters he could recognize in and with a
story that could provide him an escape from his everyday
routine life.

LATE VICTORIANS: The period during which Late Victorian

Novelists wrote their novel was marked by a gradual anti-
Victorian reaction. The early Victorians felt a social and moral
responsibility to portray society in a realistic way denouncing
its injustices but they also expressed faith in progress. In Late
Victorians, instead, faith in progress and society begin to
recede and the novels deal with the growing crisis in the moral
and religious values. They did not identify themselves with
their age as the early Victorians had done, and attacked the
optimism of their previous predecessors.
 In literature all this resulted in a sort of realism which led the
writers to reject any sentimental or romantic attitude and to
focus above all in the clash between man and his environment,
illusion and reality, dreams and their fulfilment. Individuals
were alienated from the world and felt powerless to alter their
destiny. In their new attitude, some of them were affected by
Naturalism which had developed in France following the
theories worked out by Charles Darwin which saw man only
like a creature conditioned by heredity and environment. The
most important late Victorian novelist was Thomas Hardy,
whose novels show a pessimistic tragic view of the world.
Many of his novels caused a scandal and one, Jude the
Obscure, was even burned and banned.

THE VICTORIANS/THE ROMANTICS

THE ROMANTICS THE VICTORIANS
Interested in man in nature and in the Interested in man in society and in his troubles – very concerned with
feelings of man in solitude – did not moral problems and questions of life because they were aware of living
act to better man’s life. in an uncertain age which was preparing a new society-They tried to do
something useful for man.
Escaped the great social problems of Faced the world around them and took care of the weakest individuals
their time and looked at the private trying to help them in their daily worries.
world of the imagination finding
personal solutions.
Rejected the neo-classical Tried to unite both the neo-classical tradition and the romantic [Link]
tradition and opposed and questioned former had, through the power of reason, freed man from ignorance; the
everything of the previous age latter, discovering the spiritual side of man, had given new importance to
his feelings and aspirations
Liked country life and hated industrial There was a gradual migration towards towns because people wanted to
towns- mostly lived in villages and find a work in the [Link] Queen Victoria died the 75% of the
worked on the land population lived in towns
Chose poetry as the main literary form Chose the novel because,more than poetry,it could give voice to the
because it was much linked to spirit claim of social justice and could analyze in details the inhuman standards
and feelings of industrial society
 An insightful comparison between early and late victorian
novels, highlighting their distinct characteristics and the works
of their prominent authors. The early victorian novels,
represented by Charles dickens and the Bronte sisters, offer a
realistic portrayal of society and its contradictions, while late
victorian novels, typified by Robert Louis Stevenson, Oscar
Wilde, and Thomas Hardy, delve deeper into social criticism
and the exploration of moral duality and pessimism.

The early Victorian novel is concerned with industrialism,

class conflict, and the fate of the individual in the
cosmopolitan city, while the Late Victorian novel, for its part,
makes its themes the pathos of the poor; the way passion,
whether sexual or otherwise, can ruin a person’s life; and the
ongoing struggle between the idealistic and the practical.

The most original subgenre introduced during the Late

Victorian is science fiction, which is the portrayal of a utopia
or dystopia set in the future that is based on technology.
Important Works of Early Victorian Literature

Early Victorian Literary writers used their works to explore

and critique various social issues and the struggles of
individuals within the rapidly changing society, such as
exploitation and inequality against the working classes.
Some of the important writers and their works are as below:

 Charles Dickens is popularly known for writing vividly

detailed and socially conscious novels that explore the
struggles of the poor and marginalized in Victorian
England. His works such as “Oliver Twist” (1837 to 1839)
and “A Christmas Carol” (1843) are renowned for their
memorable characters, intricate plots, and profound
social commentary.

 Charlotte Brontë’s “Jane Eyre” (1847) explores the

personal struggle of its titular character and protagonist,
Jane Eyre, as a journey from being an abused orphan to
an independent woman challenging the social norms
about class and gender. The novel also addresses issues
such as the oppressive conditions in charity schools and
the limited opportunities available to women.
 “The Tenant of Wildfell Hall” (1848) by Anne Brontë
addresses issues of women’s independence and the
effects of alcoholism and abuse in marriage.
 “Vanity Fair” (1847-1848) by William Makepeace
Thackeray is a satirical novel of manners, critiquing the
superficiality and materialism of Victorian society.

 Elizabeth Gaskell’s “Mary Barton” (1848) provides a

poignant depiction of working-class life in industrial
Manchester and addresses social issues such as poverty,
labor strikes, and the wide gap between the rich and the
poor. Through the story of Mary Barton and her family,
Gaskell highlights the struggles of the working class and
the impact of industrialization on their lives.
  Emily Brontë’s “Wuthering Heights” (1847) is primarily
known for its gothic and romantic elements. But, the
novel also delves into social issues, particularly class
conflict and the destructive nature of social exclusion.
 .

Important Works of Late Victorian Literature

Late Victorian Literature was characterized by diverse styles and

themes like Gothic fiction, Aestheticism (an art movement that valued
aesthetics over practical or moral considerations), and existentialism (a
psychological inquiry into human existence). This also resulted in a
transition towards modernist themes.

Literary works during this period not only reflected the complexities and
anxieties of the time but also laid the groundwork for the literary
innovations of the 20th century. Some of the notable works and their
writers are listed as follows:

 “The Picture of Dorian Gray” (1890) by Oscar Wilde

explores themes of aestheticism, moral decay, and the
pursuit of beauty. Wilde’s plays such as “The Importance
of Being Earnest” (1895) are also known for their wit and
satire of the society at that time.

 One of the most famous Gothic novels, “Dracula” (1897)

by Bram Stoker combines elements of horror, folklore,
and Victorian anxieties about science, sexuality, and the
Other. It has an important place in vampire literature
and Gothic fiction.
 “Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde” (1886) by
Robert Louis Stevenson explores the dual nature of
humanity and the consequences of unchecked scientific
experimentation. It delves into themes of morality,
identity, and the darker aspects of human psychology.
  “Tess of the d’Urbervilles” (1891) by Thomas Hardy is
often associated with the realist tradition of the
Victorian era. His later works, including “Tess”, show a
transition towards modernist themes such as
existentialism, fate, and the struggle against societal
constraints.
 Joseph Conrad’s “Heart of Darkness” (1899) examines
imperialism and the moral darkness within human
nature. It anticipates modernist themes of alienation,
existentialism, and the fragmentation of identity.
 “New Grub Street” (1891) by George Gissing critiques
the struggles of writers in a commercialized literary
marketplace, addressing themes of social mobility, the
challenges of intellectual life, and the effects of
capitalism on artistic creativity.

Concluding Notes
In a nutshell, while the Victorian Era saw gigantic material developments, there were
significant advancements in literature too. Social problem novels, satires on Victorian
morality, poetic expressions, revolts against pre-existing social and political norms,
the influence of science and religion, and the popularity of literary forms like novels,
gained traction.