This essay discusses how Capitalism, Colonialism and Gender inequality are depicted in Jane Eyre and Great Expectations.
The era from the enthrownment of Queen Victoria in 1837 to her death and the end of her reign in 1901, namely the Victorian era, was a time where great changes in society, economy and politics occurred in Britain, which shaped both Britain and the world as we know it today and of course impacted the literature of the time. (Wukovits, 2013) At a large scale, the literary work developed and published in the Victorian era moved away from the romantic and chivalry genre to the realistic genre, which is a mode of writing, which appears as if it is faithfully representing reality, presenting characters who are ordinary people set in unremarkable circumstances and ordinary environments and are struggling with social complexities in their environment. The Victorian realistic novel functions as a fictional microcosm where through the social struggle of these imaginary characters, the sociopolitical changes of the real Victorian society and their adverse effects are reported, imbued with the hope of the author that eventually the social issues they brought about will be resolved if they are brought to the light. (Moran, 2006) This paper will present how the financial and industrial progress along with the political dominance of the British Empire inside of Britain and to the British colonies affected Charlotte Brontë in the writing of Jane Eyre and how the social adversities of industrialization affected Charles Dickens in the writing of Great Expectations.
Table of Contents
1. The Victorian realistic novel: The vexations of Charlotte Brontë and Charles Dickens at an era of progress and dominance
Objectives and Topics
This essay explores how the socio-economic and political shifts of the Victorian era, particularly the Industrial Revolution and British colonialism, influenced the literary works of Charlotte Brontë and Charles Dickens. The primary research goal is to demonstrate how Brontë and Dickens utilized the realistic novel to critique the exploitation of the proletariat and the systemic oppression inherent in imperialist and gendered societal structures.
- Impact of the Industrial Revolution on social stratification.
- Representation of proletariat exploitation in Charles Dickens’s "Great Expectations".
- The role of colonialism and imperialism in Charlotte Brontë’s "Jane Eyre".
- Gender inequality and the "Women’s question" in Victorian society.
- Literature as a medium for social protest and warning.
Excerpt from the Book
The Victorian realistic novel: The vexations of Charlotte Brontë and Charles Dickens at an era of progress and dominance
The era from the enthrownment of Queen Victoria in 1837 to her death and the end of her reign in 1901, namely the Victorian era, was a time where great changes in society, economy and politics occurred in Britain, which shaped both Britain and the world as we know it today and of course impacted the literature of the time. (Wukovits, 2013, p.8) At a large scale, the literary work developed and published in the Victorian era moved away from the romantic and chivalry genre to the realistic genre, which is a mode of writing, which appears as if it is faithfully representing reality, presenting characters who are ordinary people set in unremarkable circumstances and ordinary environments and are struggling with social complexities in their environment.
The Victorian realistic novel functions as a fictional microcosm where through the social struggle of these imaginary characters, the sociopolitical changes of the real Victorian society and their adverse effects are reported, imbued with the hope of the author that eventually the social issues they brought about will be resolved if they are brought to the light. (Moran, 2006, pp.19,20) This paper will present how the financial and industrial progress along with the political dominance of the British Empire inside of Britain and to the British colonies affected Charlotte Brontë in the writing of Jane Eyre and how the social adversities of industrialization affected Charles Dickens in the writing of Great Expectations.
Summary of Chapters
1. The Victorian realistic novel: The vexations of Charlotte Brontë and Charles Dickens at an era of progress and dominance: This chapter provides an overview of the societal, economic, and industrial shifts of the Victorian era and establishes the research focus on how these changes are reflected in the selected novels of Brontë and Dickens.
Keywords
Victorian era, Realistic novel, Industrial Revolution, Capitalism, Proletariat, Bourgeoisie, Colonialism, Imperialism, Women’s question, Jane Eyre, Great Expectations, Charlotte Brontë, Charles Dickens, Social struggle, Gender inequality
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this academic essay?
The essay examines how the rapid progress and dominance of the British Empire during the Victorian era influenced literature, specifically through the social critiques found in the works of Charlotte Brontë and Charles Dickens.
Which central themes are explored in the text?
The main themes include the effects of the Industrial Revolution, the exploitation of the working class, the impact of colonial expansion, and the struggle for gender equality in the 19th century.
What is the primary research objective?
The aim is to show how Brontë and Dickens used the realistic novel as a tool to report on and protest against the adverse socio-political consequences of their time.
Which scientific method is utilized in this paper?
The paper employs a literary analysis approach, contextualizing fictional narratives within historical, sociological, and economic realities of Victorian Britain.
What topics are covered in the main body?
The body discusses the transition to capitalism, the condition of the proletariat in "Great Expectations," the role of colonial subjects as symbols in "Jane Eyre," and the broader critique of gender-based societal spheres.
How would you characterize the keywords of this work?
The keywords highlight the intersection of history, sociology, and literary theory, focusing on power dynamics related to class, gender, and empire.
How does Charles Dickens depict the proletariat in his work?
Dickens portrays the working class as being trapped in dangerous and unsanitary conditions, serving as a tool for the bourgeoisie's wealth accumulation while remaining financially marginalized.
In what way does Charlotte Brontë critique British imperialism?
Brontë uses characters like Bertha Mason to symbolize the "destructive consequences" of British oppression, warning that such behavior would eventually degrade British morality and security.
What is the "Women’s question" discussed in the essay?
It refers to the debate concerning the systemic gender inequality of the era, where women were confined to domestic spheres and denied the social freedoms and educational opportunities available to men.
What is the significance of the "White man’s burden" mentioned in the text?
It identifies the colonial ideology that the British had a divine mandate to "civilize" natives in foreign territories, a justification used to exploit both human and natural resources.
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- Georgia Foskolou (Autor:in), 2019, The Victorian realistic novel. The vexations of Charlotte Brontë and Charles Dickens at an era of progress and dominance, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/498950
