TheVictorianAge(EnglishLiteratureofCriticalRealisminEngland)AlexandrinaVictoria

1819-1901Attheageof18Victoriainheritedthethrone,shereignedfor64years“ThesunneversetsontheQueen’sempire”thepowerandinfluenceofBritainaroundtheworldTheOpiumWarShediedalonelyrulerAboutQueenVictoria:

1837年，18歲的女王維多利亞登基，新女王在繼位之前的日記中寫道：既然上帝把我置于這個國家的王位上，我將盡力履行自己的職責。我尚年輕，可能在許多方面缺乏經驗，但我肯定，幾乎無人像我這樣懷著為國為民的良好意愿和真切希望。女王充分實現了自己的諾言：她在其一生中模范地履行了立憲君主的職責，因此深受國民的愛戴；她還是那個時代道德風尚的典范，她是賢妻，又是良母，是典型的大家閨秀，也是優秀的一家主婦。她自己生活嚴謹，工作刻苦，對別人又充滿責任感。在許多國人眼中，她就是那個時代的縮影，她漫長的63年在位時期則是國家繁榮昌盛的頂峰。維多利亞在位時期，被稱作“維多利亞時代”，在英國所有國王中，她享有盛譽，這不是因為她做出了什么轟動的事業，而是因為她什么都不做，而僅僅恪守立憲君主的本分，做她那個時代的表率。

她是第一個以“大不列顛和愛爾蘭聯合王國女王和印度女皇”名號稱呼的英國君主。她在位的64年期間（1837-1901年），是英國最強盛的所謂“日不落帝國”時期。女王統治時期，在英國歷史上被稱為維多利亞時代。她在位的60余年正值英國自由資本主義由方興未艾到鼎盛、進而過渡到壟斷資本主義的轉變時期，經濟、文化空前繁榮，君主立憲制得到充分發展，使維多利亞女王成了英國和平與繁榮的象征。

1837年維多利亞女王即位時，英國已經完成了資本主義工業革命，為了滿足國家尋找原料地和銷售市場的要求，英國開始在世界各地建立殖民地和自治領。1840年英國占領了新西蘭，這標志著英國在全世界的殖民體系形成。英國對中國的野心由來已久。英國與中國的貿易最早始于茶葉、絲綢的貿易；但是這些商品是英國市場上的奢侈品，而中國自給自足的經濟體制使得英國的工業革命的產品毫無用武之地。為了扭轉對華貿易逆差，英國商人開始在英國政府的支持下傾銷鴉片。1839年，林則徐在虎門銷煙，極大程度上打擊了英國政府的傾銷政策，1840年初，維多利亞女王在議會上發表了著名的演說，呼吁“為了大英帝國的利益”，向中國發動戰爭。第一次鴉片戰爭遂始。

維多利亞女王的名字，象征著一個時代。在維多利亞統治期間，英國國民空前團結，英國成為一個強大的帝國，并不斷壯大發展。這是女王給英國人留下的最好遺產，也是對她一生政績最有力的評價。極少有坐上帝位的女人，能像維多利亞一樣，如此出色地完成了女王的職責，同時又擁有如此平凡的作為女人的幸福。她統治的時期，特別是1851年以后，在英國歷史上被稱為維多利亞時代。她在位的六十余年正值英國自由資本主義由方興未艾到鼎盛、進而過渡到壟斷資本主義的轉變時期，英國極度強盛，經濟、文化空前繁榮，科學、藝術都有很大的發展，君主立憲制得到充分成熟，維多利亞女王的名字成了英國和平與繁榮的象征。

維多利亞女王性格鮮明，秉性真摯。她忠于職守，具有治國之才；她不僅把時光消磨在工作上，也消磨在為家務操勞上；她忠于自己的丈夫，對子女要求嚴格，成為一代楷模。她的不懈努力，不僅使英國的文學，藝術、科學昌盛，經濟繁榮，英國的生活方式（如英國貴族的下午茶）也從那時候開始成為世界各國人民所追逐仿效的對象?！熬S多利亞時代”被許多英國人所懷念。QueenElizabeth&QueenVictoria1st,onthethroneforalongperiodoftime2nd,Englanddevelopedrapidlybothpoliticallyandeconomically3rd,literatureflourishedTheVictorianEraTheTime1)theearly30s

ofthe19th

tothebeginningyearsofthe20thcentury2)thereignofQueenVictoriafrom1832(1837)to1901

theReformBill

（英國歷史上1832年議會選舉法修正法案）TheBackgroundoftheTimethepassageoftheReformBillin1832rapideconomicdevelopment

serioussocialproblems

RapidEconomicDevelopment

politicalpower

decayingaristocratic

industrialcapitalists

theIndustrialrevolution

amazingchanges

steampoweredengines

Serioussocialproblems

conflictscapitalistsworkers

hugeprofit

worselivingcondition

long-hourworkingnever-adequatefood

theChartistMovement

（憲章運動）WhatistheChartistMovement?

憲章運動

TheChartistMovement(1836-1848)wasorganizedbytheEnglishworkersinbigcitiesandbroughtforththePeople’sCharter,inwhichtheydemandedbasicrightsandbetterlivingandworkingconditions.Themovementbroughtsomeimprovementtothewelfareoftheworkingclass.ItwasthefirstmassmovementoftheEnglishworkingclassandtheearlysignoftheawakeningofthepoor,oppressedpeople.

TheVictorianage(1832-1901)

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HistoricalSituation

AnAgeofExpansionAnAgeofchangeandImprovementAnAgeofUnrestandDispute

ReignofQueenVictoria:1837-1901

TheVictorianage(1832-1901)AnAgeofExpansion：

---BritishEmpireatitshighestpointofdevelopmentasaworldpower,orthelargestnationonearth---thelargestexporterandimporterofgoodsintheworld;theprimarymanufacturerofgoodsandthewealthiestcountry---seeingitastheirdutytobringEnglishvalues,laws,customs,andreligiontothe“savage”racesaroundtheworld(Missionaries)

TheVictorianage(1832-1901)AnAgeofchangeandImprovement

---GreatExhibitionof1851andCrystalPalace(locomotives,machinetools,powerlooms,reapers,steamboatenginesandetc)--The1stReformActof1832andthe2ndReformactof1867:reformintheelectoralsystemleadingtoamoredemocraticsociety---,1830,1850,1900,PublicrailwayacrossEnglandandanundergroundrailsystembeneathLondon

TheVictorianage(1832-1901)

◆

HistoricalSituation

AnAgeofUnrestandDispute

SocialunrestIntellectualdiversityReligiousdebateunemployment,poverty,slumsinlargecites,terribleworkingconditions;UtilitarianismandJeremyBenthamLiberalismandJean-JacqueRousseauSocialismandKarlMarxGermanHigherCriticismDarwin’sTheOriginofSpecies(1859)OxfordMovementledbyCardinalNewmanTherapidgrowthofEvangelicalMethodism(循道宗)ChartistMovement;petitionsforwomen’ssuffrage;theMarriedWomen'sPropertyActs

TheVictorianage(1832-1901)---Puritanmorality:virtuesofhardwork;modestyandworldlysuccessagainstseekingworldlypleasure---Victorianquality:thehighstandardsofdecency;earnestpursuitofmoralsvs.practicesofprudery,falsemodesty,emptyrespectability---avoidanceofprofanityandsex&exposureoftheage’shypocrisyinfavorofsincerityandhumanitarianlove.

Victoriantemper

Influence

TheVictorianperiodhasbeengenerallyregardedasoneofthemostgloriousintheEnglishhistory.Asaresultofrelativepeaceathome,nationaleconomypickedupatahighspeed.Thecountrychangedfromanagriculturaltoanindustrializednation.Itbecamemoreurbanized,citiesgrewinsize,andvillagesdeclined.Educationbecamemoregeneral,andscienceandtechnologyadvanced.Despitethegapingextremesofwealthandpoverty,lifebecamevisiblyeasier.

Onthewhole,theVictorianperiodwascharacterizedbyrapidchangeinnearlyeverysphereofsocietyandoneoftransitionfromthepasttothemoderntimes.Hopeexistedalongsidedismay,andoptimismwascoloredbyanxiety.LiteratureoftheVictorianPeriod

TheVictorianPeriodofEnglishliteraturebeganwiththeaccessionofQueenVictoriatothethronein1837,andlasteduntilherdeathin1901.QueenVictoria(1819-1901)

TheVictorianPeriod(1832-1901)Theearlyphase(1832-1848):TimeofturbulenceThemiddlephase(1848-1870):timeofprosperityThelatephase(1870-1901):timeofdecayChartistliteratureandDemocraticpoetry

Criticalrealisticnovels,poetryandnon-fictionprose

Criticalrealists(ThomasHardy,SamuelButler),Naturalists(GeorgeGissing),schoolofAestheticism(WalterPater,OscarWilde)唯美主義CharacteristicsoftheEnglishliteratureinVictorianperiod

TheVictorianliterature,asaproductofitsage,naturallytookitsqualityofmagnitudeanddiversity.Itwasmany-sidedandcomplex,andreflectedbothromanticallyandrealisticallythegreatchangesthatweregoingoninpeople’slifeandthought.Inthisperiod,thenovelbecamenaturallythemostpopularformofalltheliteraryart,andwhatwriterswereconcernedwithwasthefateofcommonpeople.VictorianLiteratureChronologicallytheVictorianperiodroughlycoincideswiththereignofQueenVictoriaoverEnglandfrom1836to1901.Inliterature,theearlyVictorianagecanbesaidtobetheageofcriticalrealism.Thecriticalrealismofthe19thcenturyflourishedinthefortiesandintheearlyfifties.Puritanmoralityoftheearlyand

midVictorianperiodwasreflectedinthenovels.InVictoriannovelsthesociety’seffectsonindividualareanalyzed.VictorianLiteratureLiteratureproducedduringthisperiodreflectsthe“spiritofthetimes”:Expansionofnewspapersandperiodicalsledtoongoingdebatesaboutcurrentpoliticalandsocialissues.Victorianliterature(especiallynovels)offeredarealistic,day-to-dayportrayalofsociallifeandrepresentedtheseissuesinthestoriesofthecharacters.Suddenly,theonce-silentfemalesegmentofsocietyraisedtheirvoices.Theycouldevenappearonstage,actingindramas(aprivilegedeniedtothempriortothistime).FeaturesofVictoriannovels

Inthisperiod,thenovelbecamethemostwidelyread&themostvital&challengingexpressionofprogressivethought.Whilestickingtotheprincipleoffaithfulrepresentationofthe18th-centuryrealistnovel,novelistsinthisperiodcarriedtheirdutyforwardtothecriticismofthesociety&thedefenseofthemass.Althoughwritingfromdifferentpointsofview&withdifferenttechniques,theysharedonethingincommon,thatis,theywereallconcernedaboutthefateofthecommonpeople.Theywereangryattheinhumansocialinstitutions,thedecayingsocialmoralityasrepresentedbythemoney-worship&Utilitarianism&thewidespreadmisery,poverty&injustice.Theirtruthfuldepictionofpeople'slife&bitter&strongcriticismofthesocietyhaddonemuchinawakeningthepublicconsciousnesstothesocialproblems&intheactualimprovementofthesociety.Victorianliterature,ingeneral,truthfullyrepresentsthereality&spiritoftheage.Thehigh-spiritedvitality,thedown-to-earthearnestness,thegood-naturedhumor&unboundedimaginationareallunprecedented.Inalmosteverygenreitpavedthewayforthecomingcentury,whereitsspirits,values&experimentsaretowitnesstheirbumperharvest.FeaturesofVictoriannovels

ThecriticalrealisticideasamongVictoriannovelistsWhilestickingtotheprincipleoffaithfulrepresentationoftheeighteenth-centuryrealistnovel,thecriticalrealisticnovelistscarriedtheirdutyforwardtothecriticismofthesocietyandthedefenseofthemass.Theywereallconcernedaboutthefateofthecommonpeople.Theywereangryabouttheinhumansocialinstitutions,thedecayingsocialmoralityasrepresentedbythemoney-worshipandUtilitarianism,andthewidespreadmisery,povertyandinjustice.Whatiscriticalrealism?

Criticalrealismisthemaintrendoftheliterarythoughtsinthe19thcentury.Itrevealsthecorruptinginfluenceoftheruleofmoneyuponhumannature.Criticalrealistsfirstandforemostsetthemselvesthetaskofcriticizingcapitalistsocietyfromademocraticviewpointofbourgeoisiereality.Themajorcontributionmadebythe19thcenturycriticalrealistslieintheirperfectionofthenovels.Theymadeuseoftheformofnovelforfullanddetailedrepresentationsofsocialandpoliticalevents,andthefateofindividualsandofwholesocialclasses.

LiteraryCurrent:TheCriticalRealismDefinition:Englishcriticalrealism.CriticalrealismwasthemaincurrentinEnglishnovelinthemiddleofthe19thecentury,anagewhichwitnessedagreatdevelopmentincapitalistindustryandcommerceinEngland.Replacingthefeudalaristocracy,thebourgeoisiehadassumedrulingpower.Theworkingpeoplelivedinpovertyandmisery,andtheconflictbetweenlaborandcapitalbecamethefundamentalclasscontradictioninsociety.

WhatarethemaincharacteristicsoftheEnglishcriticalrealism?

Englishcriticalrealismofthe19thcenturyflourishedinthefortiesandintheearlyfifties.ThecriticalrealistsdescribedwithmuchvividnessandartisticskillthechieftraitoftheEnglishsocietyandcriticizedthecapitalistsystemfromademocraticviewpoint.Intheirbestworks,thegreedandhypocrisyoftheupper-classesarecontrastedwiththehonestyandgood-heartednessoftheobscure“simplepeople”ofthelowerclasses.HencehumorandsatireaboundintheEnglishrealisticnovelsofthe19thcentury.However,thecriticalrealistsdidnot,duetotheirworldoutlook,couldnot,findawaytoeradicatesocialevils.

LiteraryForms2.SocialcriticisminproseThomasCarlyleJohnRuskinMatthewArnold3.EnglishPoetry

4.TheappearanceofWorkingClassLiterature1.Perfectionofthenovela.thegreatestrealistofthetimewasCharlesDickensb.WilliamMakepeaceThackerayc.CharlotteBronteandElizabethGaskelld.GeorgeEliotThemainwritersinVictorianPeriodNovelists:CharlesDickens（查爾斯.狄更斯）TheBronteSisters（勃朗特三姐妹）AlfredTennyson（阿爾弗雷德.丁尼生）RobertBrowning（羅伯特.布朗