The Victorian Era

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The Victorian Era

• 1837-1901

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The 18th Century
There were many closer heirs to Anne, but they
were all Catholic As a result, Georges reign
was questioned by the Catholics deposing was
attempted and failed.
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I am Not Amused
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High Society (social Class)

• Upper class elite socialites
• In the Victorian Era
• Valued history, heritage, lineage and the
  continuity of their family line.
• Believed
• born to rule through divine right
• Noblesse Oblige the Elite's duty to take care of
  society
• Hoped to continue tradition and the status quo
• primogeniture (first born son inherits
  everything)
• Enjoyed a life of luxury and leisure
• Owned most everything around
• By the late Victorian periodthe middle class was
  only beginning to be recognized

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Jane Austen

• The Art of Social Commentary in Pre-Victorian and
  Victorian British Society

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Social Commentary

• Expressing ones thoughts and views for the
  betterment of society
• Purpose?

PERSUADE
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Jane Austen

• Remained unmarried, but wrote about the
  institution of marriage with remarkable insight.
• Was proposed to at least once turned him down
• Devoted to her family corresponded with them
  often
• Daughter of a clergyman in a family of eight
  children

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Anonymousbut why?

• Published anonymouslymost women of her time did,
  because to be a published woman was very
  vulgarwomen were meant to be genteel

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Social Commentary

• Main focus absurdities of social life
• Medium satirical
• Intention make brilliant observations on human
  nature and shows a gift for contriving dramatic
  situations.
• It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a
  single man in possession of a good fortune, must
  be in want of a wife. (Pride and Prejudice)

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Unconscious or conscious?

• Unconscious
• when a writer points to a problem caused by
  social customs without explicitly challenging
  those customs.
• conscious
• when a writer directly attributes a problem to
  social customs.

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On Making an Agreeable Marriage

• A letter from an Aunt to a Niece
• Primary or Secondary source?
• Why do we need to establish this?
• Purpose of a letter?
• Inform of the going ons in life
• Entertain with stories
• Persuade one to take advice

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As we Read
Authors tone Authors Purpose Your Reaction

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Courtship in the 19th Century
Love Compatibility Money Respectability
Examples from letter
Importance
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What does this tell us about courtship and
marriage?