Historical background and culture of the

Victorian Period

The Victorian period of literature roughly coincides with the years that Queen
Victoria ruled Great Britain and its Empire (1837-1901). During this era, Britain was
transformed from a predominantly rural, agricultural society into an urban, industrial
one.

The Victorian Period, which is identified as the period between years 1832 to 1901,
was named after the reigning monarch at the time, Queen Victoria of England. The
Victorian period saw many changes and innovations which shaped the modern world.

Politically, the British Empire was powerful and had many colonies all over the
world. Due to political expansion and colonisation, trade was facilitated across
international waters.

In the Victorian Period, the family was a central unit in Victorian society. The roles of
each member of the family were clearly defined. As a result of this, women were
strictly confined to domestic duties. They were expected to be austere, delicate, and
deferent to their husbands, fathers, and brothers. They could not inherit property.

Education and literacy progressed a great deal during the Victorian Age. Since the
printing technology was firmly established and easy to replicate, the number of
publications was on the rise. Serialised publications became immensely popular as
large groups of people, including the newly emerged middle-class, subscribed to
periodicals.

Science and medicine advanced significantly during the Victorian Period. On the
other hand, superstition and medical malpractice were also on the rise. This is
captured, for example, in numerous Victorian Period literary texts featuring the
asylum, where individuals were locked up and poorly treated, with little to no hope of
freedom.

Victorian Period - Key takeaways

 The Victorian period is named after the reigning English monarch, Queen Victoria.
 The Victorian period is marked by religious communities fighting for dominance,
progress in science and technology, and industrialisation.
 Major Victorian poets include Elizabeth Barrett Browning, Robert Browning, and
Alfred Tennyson.
 Major Victorian prose authors include the Brontë sisters and Charles Dickens.
 Oscar Wilde was an important figure among playwrights emerging from the Victorian
period.
 Beloved fictional characters from works of the Victorian period include Sherlock
Holmes, Alice from Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (1865), and Count Dracula.