3.2 The Victorian novel

The Victorian novel emerged during Queen Victoria's reign, reflecting the era's social and cultural shifts. These lengthy, complex works were often serialized in magazines, capitalizing on rising literacy rates and improved printing technology. The genre's popularity grew alongside the expanding middle class.

Victorian novels were known for their omniscient narration, realism, and social commentary. They often addressed contemporary issues like poverty and industrialization. Authors like Charles Dickens, George Eliot, and the Brontë sisters crafted memorable characters and explored moral themes, leaving a lasting impact on literature.

Emergence of the Victorian novel

• The Victorian novel emerged during the reign of Queen Victoria (1837-1901) and reflected the social, economic, and cultural changes of the era
• Victorian novels were characterized by their length, complexity, and serialized publication in magazines and newspapers
• The rise of literacy rates, advancements in printing technology, and the growth of the middle class contributed to the popularity and accessibility of novels during this period

Characteristics of Victorian novels

Serialization in magazines

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• Many Victorian novels were initially published in installments in periodicals such as Dickens' Household Words and All the Year Round
• Serialization allowed authors to respond to reader feedback and adapt their stories, while also building anticipation and increasing sales
• The format of serialization influenced the structure and pacing of novels, often featuring cliffhangers and plot twists to maintain reader interest

Omniscient third-person narration

• Victorian novels frequently employed an omniscient third-person narrator who had access to the thoughts, feelings, and motivations of multiple characters
• This narrative style allowed authors to provide a comprehensive view of society and explore the inner lives of their characters
• The omniscient narrator often served as a moral guide, commenting on the actions and decisions of the characters and reinforcing the novel's themes

Realism and social commentary

• Victorian novelists sought to depict contemporary society with a high degree of realism, focusing on the everyday lives and struggles of characters from various social classes
• Novels often addressed social issues such as poverty, industrialization, class inequality, and gender roles, providing a critical commentary on the state of Victorian society
• Authors used their works to expose the harsh realities of life for the working class and to advocate for social reform and justice

Moral and didactic themes

• Victorian novels often had a strong moral and didactic purpose, aiming to educate and guide readers towards virtuous behavior and ethical decision-making
• Themes such as the importance of hard work, the dangers of temptation and vice, and the rewards of personal integrity and social responsibility were common in Victorian literature
• Many novels featured characters who faced moral dilemmas and had to navigate the complexities of social expectations and personal desires, ultimately learning valuable life lessons

Major Victorian novelists

Charles Dickens

• Charles Dickens (1812-1870) was one of the most popular and influential Victorian novelists, known for his vivid characters, social criticism, and masterful storytelling
• His works, such as Oliver Twist, David Copperfield, and Great Expectations, often featured themes of poverty, social injustice, and the struggle for personal growth and redemption
• Dickens' novels were characterized by their humor, pathos, and memorable characters, and his writing style was known for its descriptive detail and emotional depth

George Eliot

• George Eliot (1819-1880), the pen name of Mary Ann Evans, was a prominent Victorian novelist known for her psychological realism and complex characters
• Her novels, such as Middlemarch and The Mill on the Floss, explored themes of social change, individual responsibility, and the role of women in society
• Eliot's writing was distinguished by its intellectual depth, moral seriousness, and nuanced portrayal of human relationships and inner conflicts

William Makepeace Thackeray

• William Makepeace Thackeray (1811-1863) was a satirical novelist known for his biting social commentary and ironic wit
• His most famous work, Vanity Fair, critiqued the hypocrisy and superficiality of upper-class society and featured one of the most memorable anti-heroines in literature, Becky Sharp
• Thackeray's novels often exposed the darker aspects of human nature and the corrupting influence of money and social status

Charlotte, Emily, and Anne Brontë

• The Brontë sisters, Charlotte (1816-1855), Emily (1818-1848), and Anne (1820-1849), were important figures in Victorian literature, known for their passionate and imaginative works
• Charlotte Brontë's Jane Eyre, a bildungsroman featuring a strong and independent female protagonist, addressed issues of gender, class, and morality
• Emily Brontë's Wuthering Heights, a gothic romance set in the Yorkshire moors, explored themes of love, revenge, and the destructive power of obsession
• Anne Brontë's The Tenant of Wildfell Hall dealt with themes of alcoholism, domestic abuse, and women's rights, challenging societal norms and expectations

Elizabeth Gaskell

• Elizabeth Gaskell (1810-1865) was a social novelist known for her sympathetic portrayal of the working class and her engagement with issues of industrialization and social reform
• Her works, such as North and South and Mary Barton, depicted the struggles and hardships faced by factory workers and the tensions between the industrial North and the rural South
• Gaskell's novels often featured strong female characters and explored themes of class, gender, and the importance of human connection and understanding

Thomas Hardy

• Thomas Hardy (1840-1928) was a Victorian novelist and poet known for his pessimistic and fatalistic view of life and his portrayal of the decline of rural society
• His novels, such as Tess of the d'Urbervilles and Jude the Obscure, dealt with themes of social injustice, the struggle against fate, and the consequences of rigid moral codes
• Hardy's writing was characterized by its vivid descriptions of the natural world, its psychological depth, and its critique of Victorian society's hypocritical attitudes towards sexuality and morality

Subgenres of Victorian novels

Social problem novels

• Social problem novels addressed specific social issues and aimed to raise awareness and promote reform
• Examples include Elizabeth Gaskell's Mary Barton (industrial poverty) and Charles Dickens' Oliver Twist (child labor and the workhouse system)
• These novels often featured realistic depictions of the lives of the working class and the poor, and they sought to elicit sympathy and inspire change in their readers

Industrial novels

• Industrial novels focused on the impact of industrialization on society, particularly on the lives of factory workers and the working class
• Examples include Elizabeth Gaskell's North and South and Charles Dickens' Hard Times
• These novels often contrasted the values and lifestyles of the industrial North with those of the rural South, and they explored issues of class conflict, labor relations, and the dehumanizing effects of mechanization

Sensation novels

• Sensation novels were a popular subgenre that featured scandalous and thrilling plots, often involving crime, secrets, and mistaken identities
• Examples include Wilkie Collins' The Woman in White and Mary Elizabeth Braddon's Lady Audley's Secret
• These novels were known for their suspenseful narratives, complex mysteries, and shocking twists, and they often challenged conventional notions of morality and respectability

Gothic revival

• The Victorian era saw a revival of the Gothic novel, which featured elements of horror, suspense, and the supernatural
• Examples include Emily Brontë's Wuthering Heights and Bram Stoker's Dracula
• Gothic novels often explored themes of passion, transgression, and the dark side of human nature, and they used atmospheric settings and psychological terror to create a sense of unease and dread

Historical novels

• Historical novels set their stories in the past, often using real historical events and figures as a backdrop for fictional narratives
• Examples include William Makepeace Thackeray's Vanity Fair (set during the Napoleonic Wars) and George Eliot's Romola (set in Renaissance Florence)
• These novels often used the past as a means of commenting on contemporary issues and exploring timeless themes of love, ambition, and moral conflict

Bildungsroman

• The bildungsroman, or coming-of-age novel, traced the psychological and moral growth of a protagonist from youth to adulthood
• Examples include Charlotte Brontë's Jane Eyre and Charles Dickens' Great Expectations
• These novels often focused on the challenges and obstacles faced by the protagonist as they navigated the complexities of society and sought to find their place in the world, ultimately leading to a greater understanding of themselves and their values

Victorian novel vs Romantic novel

• The Victorian novel marked a shift from the Romantic novel of the early 19th century, which emphasized emotion, individualism, and the beauty of nature
• Victorian novels were more focused on social realism, moral didacticism, and the exploration of contemporary issues, while Romantic novels often featured idealized characters and settings
• Victorian novels were generally longer and more complex than Romantic novels, with intricate plots and a greater emphasis on character development and psychological depth
• While Romantic novels celebrated the power of the imagination and the individual, Victorian novels often emphasized the importance of social responsibility and the need for reform and progress

Influence on later literature

Modernist reaction against Victorian novel

• Modernist writers of the early 20th century, such as Virginia Woolf and James Joyce, reacted against the conventions and values of the Victorian novel
• Modernists rejected the realism, linearity, and moral certainty of Victorian literature in favor of experimental forms, psychological interiority, and a more fragmented and subjective view of reality
• Modernist novels often featured stream-of-consciousness narration, non-linear storytelling, and a greater emphasis on the inner lives of characters, marking a significant departure from the Victorian novel's focus on external reality and social commentary

Neo-Victorian novels

• Neo-Victorian novels, written in the late 20th and early 21st centuries, revisit and reimagine the Victorian era from a contemporary perspective
• Examples include A.S. Byatt's Possession and Sarah Waters' Fingersmith
• These novels often engage with the social, cultural, and political issues of the Victorian period, while also exploring themes of identity, sexuality, and the relationship between the past and the present
• Neo-Victorian novels may adopt the style and conventions of Victorian literature, or they may use postmodern techniques to subvert and critique those conventions, offering new insights into the era and its legacy

Legacy and lasting impact

• The Victorian novel had a profound and lasting impact on the development of English literature and on the way we understand and represent the world around us
• Victorian novelists pioneered new techniques of characterization, narration, and social commentary that continue to influence writers today
• The themes and issues explored in Victorian novels, such as class inequality, gender roles, and the effects of industrialization, remain relevant and resonant in our own time
• The Victorian novel's emphasis on realism, moral seriousness, and the power of literature to educate and reform society has shaped our expectations of what a novel can and should do
• The enduring popularity and canonical status of many Victorian novels, such as those by Dickens, Eliot, and the Brontës, testify to their timeless appeal and their ability to speak to the human condition across generations and cultures