Social Class Of The Victorian Era - 1282 Words

When Queen Victoria took control of England in 1837, the country was undergoing many social changes. Social status was no longer based on lineage and was now determined by an individual’s financial status. Lower class individuals were shamed and judged by members of the elite social classes. Things like fashion and language were used to categorize people into certain social classes. This categorization came with the prejudices and stereotypes that were common among members of a certain class. This culture gave the members of the elite social classes a sense of entitlement that lead them to judge the mistreat members of the lower classes. From this harsh and strict social system emerged a group of social reformers. These reformers came in the form of writers, journalists, photographers, etc. and they worked hard to expose the social class system for what it was. One of the most important social reformers during the Victorian Era was Charles Dickens. Growing up in a poor, workin g class family, Dickens knew about the harsh realities that spawned from the social class system present. His writing reflects these experiences and attempts to expose this harsh system and other big problems prominent in Victorian society. Pip is a character that experiences some of these realities in Great Expectations. Pip initially lets his social status define him and must then go through a spiritual journey to discover what truly defines an individual. In Great Expectations Charles Dickens usesShow MoreRelatedImportance Of Social Class During The Victorian Era1781 Words   |  8 PagesImportance of Social Class in the Victorian Era Social class before the twenty-first century may seem appealing to modern day audiences quite contrasting than it would to the people of the Victorian era. 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Both life styles are very different and placing Pip in both societies helped to show that, while t he wealthy people benefited from theRead MoreThe Era Of The Victorian Era1565 Words   |  7 PagesThe Victorian Era is a period prominent in harboring peace, prosperity as well as introducing the later shifts in industrial and political reforms. Queen Victoria a notable person of the era, began her reign in 1837 and influenced England by the values she encouraged. The Victorian Era is divided into four categories: â€Å"The Early Period is known as â€Å"A time of Troubles†, The Mid-Victorian Period, The Late Period and The Nineties.†(Stephen Greenblatt). The Nineties is thoroughly separated among theRead MoreCharlotte Bronte ´s Jane Eyre: A Victorian Criticism737 Words   |  3 PagesThe Victorian Era, lasting from 1832 until 1901, was a period of British history during the reign of Queen Victoria. 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The Victorian Era had many elements that could be tied to it but the one that willRead MoreThe Romantic Period Of The Victorian Era1715 Words   |  7 PagesThroughout history, many time periods have been similar and different from each other. People from each time period decide what th ey want to continue incorporating and what they would like to disregard. The Victorian Era was brought about upon to show rebellion from the Romantic period. The Victorian Era is a reaction against the Romantic Period due to differences in terms of historical influences, effects of science, crises of faith, and women’s desire for change. The Romantic Period’s history started