Victorean_Romanticism_comparison_And_Victoreanwriters

Welcome Readers!

Introduction:

With reference to "W.J. Long's History of English Literature text" , Romantic era starts from 1800 and ends in 1850. While Victorean era from 1850-1900. Then there is 'historical summary' written on both era, Romantic as well as Victorean along with their literary characteristics. As we move further we are to see some of the writers of 'Victorian age' like; Robert Browning(1812-1889), Alfred Tennyson(1809-1892), Charles Dickens(1812-1870) and George Eliot(1819-1880) along with a brief analyzation of their works.

Keywords:Historical_Summary_Romantic_and_Victorean_era_Literary_Characteristics: Victorian and Romantic age: The age of prose, The moral purpose, Idealism, Romantic Enthusiasm, The age of poetry, Woman as novelists and The modern magazines. _Robert Browning_Tennyson_Charles_Dickens_George_Eliot_and_Works.

A brief combined historical summary of Romantic and Victorean era:

Romantic history starts with "French Revolution, starting from 1789 to 1799 and coming to the full end about 18th century.

King George

Where the "three watch words of French Revolution" are given, those are; equality, fraternity and liberty. When looking this first aspect in 'Victorean historical 

Queen Victorea

summary', we are to see 'Democarcy' as the first point, which helped in the establishment of 'the house of commons' and striped off the divine ruling government party, and a series of new reform bills extend the suffrage, until the whole body don't select for themselves their respective country's and their's representator.

As a result it has 'economic disaster' rather than political one. Where wealth was unequally distributed and spent to serve for military aid and official alliances rather than satiating requirements of the poor people. Instead they were imposed a heavy tax, and so unable to resist due to famine prices on corn and wheat. As a result we had a riotal group of men&women, seeking food for their survival. In Victorean era we had "social unrest". Where the "slave trade" was abolished in 1833, but due to the England people's recognization of not only "negro people" are involved in slavery but also their women, men and little children are equally involved in this trivial work, working in mines and factories,  and as a result in the furthering topic we see that those were striving to establish peace by looking in themselves and the evils hidden somewhere. While in 'Romantic era's last portion of its history, we see that reformation was done in various areas of then prevailing disaster.

Combined study of Literary characteristics of the two ages(Victorean Vs Romanticism):

The_Age_Of_Poetry_Vs_The_Age_Of_Prose:

Pleasure(Romanticism) Vs Peril(Victorean)

Both "Romantic age" and "Victorian age" are emphatic in genre, one is subsequently an age of 'poetry' another is of 'prose'. In former we can see glory of the age in poetry of Scott, Wordsworth, Coleridge, Byron, Shelley, Keats, Moore and Southey. Exceptionality can be seen in latter one, as he has written far more better proses than poetries. On contradictory if we peep into "Victorean era" the era's tendency led genre to 'prose writing'. With the spread of education it was 'the age of newspaper, the magazine and the modern novel'. The first two being the story of the world's daily life, and the last our pleasantest form of literary entertainment, as well as our most successful method of presenting 'modern problems' and 'ideals'. Exceptionally the number of novels increased in this age, can't be found in any of the era. The prominent writers of the latter genre were Charles Dickens,  William Thackeray, George Eliot etc.

Romantic_Enthusiasm_Vs_Idealism:

Romantic age was the age of 'spontaneity', while Victorean age was known for science(in the name of evolution). As the former age was naturalized in nature and regarded with spontaneity, it was unaffected in nature as well as in man, and was free to follow it's own fancy in it's own way:

Free to follow one's fancy: Best example from one of the poet laureates of this age.

If we see in Victorian age with the same aspect, the age was known for idealism, but the idealism was connected with the evolutionary theory of science, from one may knew from where one has been evolved, but as characterised also as 'pessimism' perhaps its aftermath consequences were beyond repair. As in W.J. Long's text(History of English Literature) an example of cologne cathedral is given:

Which seems to be studied in very large context but when went closer to its walls and buttresses it seems  mere 'a shapeless pile of stone'.

If elaborating this to an extent, it can be assumed that from far away 'idealism' was seen, but was in disillusioned state, giving hope that it can be searched and perhaps will get succeed. When finally approach through it was with full of despairity and so it leads to the dullness of idealism, only detected but didn't reach to any conclusion.

Moral_Purpose_Vs_Women_As_Novelists_/\_The_Modern_magazines:


The 'Victorian age' is known for 'moral purpose'. As Oscar Wilde's idea of "Art for art's sake" was supplanted to "moral purpose". If in another age we see, we find 'women' as writers. As it is mentioned in the text(women's very tendency is to be responsive with magnificiency and has tendency to grab any fair opportunity). Those were emotional, while the Victorian writers were influenced with 'moral sense' and were engaged in searching for deeply implied truth. Not the reality and naturality of "Ibsen" and "Zola", which categorised as disillusiveness.

In modern magazines at first criticism was very destructive, but added wisdom criticism assumed it's TRUE function of construction. Where many writers have contributed.

Thus by concluding three subpoints of the literary characteristics of both the ages, we came to know here how the spontaneity of poetry and prose differs from one another, though in nature both are empathic. It has same regardance with "Romantic enthusiasm" where spontaneity is unaffected in both man and nature and idealism as disillusive and lastly women as novelists, moral purpose and the modern magazine, can be seen subsequently as again a glimpse of romanticism, concerning here women, who through education are going to excel in their lives, at other side Ruskin, Tennyson, Browning all remain to be the truth seeker rather than believing in 'superficial realism' of Ibsen and Zola, while lastly we have 'modern magazine's as a literary characteristic, where though writers such as Scott, Keats, Byron etc were criticised but such things were for their welfare and they excelled accordingly and created "a constructive type criticism".

Life's reflection on works: Browning & Tennyson:

Tennyson:

He had great impulse towards poetry, he hadn't shown any wild oats, hadn't reverses or successes and experiences, no business care and public offices.
It was written after his friend's "Hallam's death" in 1833. A first elegy on his friend:

Break, Break, Break:
"And I would that my tongue could utter

         The thoughts that arise in me,

O, well for the fisherman's boy;
That he shouts with his sister at play"!

Seems to be raw description as only he has felt in his prior days, and the surroundings of children(suggests here his childhood days, which perhaps he had spent with his friend)which he has observed, not giving any mature message but a sorrowful tendency of nostalgia.

As he had experienced his school life, but unable to cope up with, as some frightening and hidden activities were going one there, facing his friend's Hallam's death, ceasing himself for ten years from writing, he writes "In Memoriam and Idylls of the king.

We will see his later writing tendency from the former poem:

In Memoriam:
"We have but faith: we can't know,
For knowledge is of things we see;
And yet we trust it comes from thee,
A beam in darkness: Let it grow".

As it was written after ten years of his friends death; he describes faith: as unable to know, while 'knowledge' is being differentiated from the action verb 'know's and he says: knowledge is something we can see and thus we perceive that all material things are provided by you, but you can't be seen, you things are visible, if factually it is provided by you, then you both should be either visible or invisible but should be in a single category rather than keeping on travelling from one side to another. Impact of science can be seen in this poem as the absurd era of 'Twentieth century' was about to approach. As the idea of God can't be made rationale then let a beam to be in darkness to grow.

Thus we learnt here how "Tennyson" has great impulse towards poetry and how by passing through a variety of circumstances, one of which was poverty, he gained recognition in literary world.


Browning:

As we aren't concerning here "Browning's background of his record of parents". Though influence can be seen in his furthering life. We are only concerning here, how he was:

His schooling was short and desultory, and education was being attended by 'private tutors and his father'. Later on he was left to follow his own inclination. But he was influenced by "Elizabeth Barrett" concerning his career and life.

He had a typical "Briton like personality". But as it is mentioned in (W.J. Long's text): that our views changes when he is seen from different angles in lifeless portrayal. Sometimes he seems to be a business-man, a German Scientist and also it gives a curious suggestion of "uncle Remus". Which was actually a reflection of his mixed and unremembered ancestors.

As we have seen that his thoughts were obscure at first, we can assume that perhaps he was influenced with some hidden powers, which were overcoming on him and so perhaps his writings are just moving from one thought to another and had ejaculations on and often and as a result we have his some early poems, which remains very subtle in language and sometimes blurr.

Rabbi_Ben_Ezra:

"Thoughts hardly to be packed
Into a narrow act,
Fancies that broke through language and escaped".

First two lines shows 'subtlity'
In his later life, maturity can be felt in his works, as conveying optimism and giving life's moral message:

Paracelsus:

"I see my way as birds their trackless way,
I shall arrive,_what time what circuit first,
I ask not; but unless God send his hail
Or blinding fire-balls, sleet or stifling stone"

The poem indicates 'optimism' as poet doesn't want to arrive at any destination, but unbounded wants to fly, without any limitations but has instinction to God.

It seems that though at first he was ridiculed and criticized vehemently, by some writers, inspired by "Tennyson's critique on Sordello", he didn't loose his hope and courage to get excellation in his life and career and ultimately he was succeeded and transformed his life into maturity phase of life, which was actually confused earlier between hallucinatinative thoughts.

CHARLES_DICKENS: 1812-1870
Charles Dickens was known for his works, comprising in it some views of his life:

He presented his views on 'poor children's wandering lonely in the streets(reflecting his early life also).
His life as a clerk in law office and courts, where he learnt about enemies and victims, who have been equally targeted of the then prevailing harsh laws.

He worked as news reporter then became a manager, and by being there learnt racy writing and got familiar with public taste.

He was a great actor, he seized every opportunity coming in front of him, if it is any situation, public gesture or voice or any person.

These four characteristics reflected in his works, where his two sensible elements can also be seen, altogether with life experiences and struggle, which he confronted throughout his life.

For Example : Oliver Twist - 1837

In this novel we have seen, nine year old parish boy, who has run away from the workhouse to London. Where he meets 'Artful Dogger' who is the leader of the boy gang of pickpocketers, after much struggle he came out of it and accidently is met with 'Fagin' who is running a criminal gang, and teaches them unlawful things to satiate his own thirst of surviving through collecting money from stealing things.

"Such is the influence which the condition of our own thoughts, exercises, even over the appearance of external objects. Men who look on nature, and their fellow-men, and cry that all is dark and gloomy, are in the right; but the sombre colours are reflections from their own jaundiced eyes and hearts. The real hues are delicate, and need a clearer vision".

In aforementioned stanza it is being said that: such are the unknown things, which are  influencing our thoughts, exercises and affecting appearance of external objects. Men who is an outsider observant of humanbeing as well as of nature, will understand that all right if one is crying over any gloomy and dark situation and a person who is influenced by its surroundings, but fails to realise that these 'sombre colours' are actually the result of their own 'jaundiced(pale) hearts and eyes(bad activities) rather than anything else.

The last line describes "Oliver Twist" a protagonist of this novel, who was delicate and had a clear vision. Perhaps here a novelist is indicating towards himself also.


"People like us don't go out at night cause people like them see us for what we are".

Some are not born criminals, situation is made such that those are becoming killers and murderers. Exactly the very stanza says: here "them" is directed to those people, who are outside wanderers and who are always in search of one, who can make their unlawful activities easy going and so they always concern their outcome benefits, for that one person and utilize him for his own personal benefits.(we can see in this context the character of Oliver Twist, and contrast Fagin and Artful Dogger)

"The sun,--the bright sun, that brings back, not light alone, but new life, and hope, and freshness to man--burst upon the crowded city in clear and radiant glory. Through costly-coloured glass and paper-mended window, through cathedral dome and rotten crevice, it shed its equal ray".

This last stanza describes 'optimism'. Where "the bright sun" is personified in persona and perhaps on "Oliver Twist" who literally remains through out the novel a ray of hope in himself and also for others.

All in all we got to know here since first described stanza, we see the authors sensibility towards the people of his times and also a realization of their situation, from another we learnt how innocents are being detected by the culprits for their own benefits and lastly the stanza describes optimistic state of the protagonist/author/novel.


GEORGE_ELIOT(1819-1880):
Mary Ann Evans, with her real name proceeded into her life since her birth, her life was fluctuated from time to time. An incident of her life can be described here that: when she was of 21, her family moved to "Foleshill Road, near Coventry" where she became acquainted with the family of "Charles Bray": a prosperous ribbon manufacturer, whose house was a gathering place for the freethinkers. The effect of this atmosphere on liberal thinkers upon Miss. Evans was in a narrowing state and she lost sympathy towards them.

• In her works, she represented: "the inner struggle of the soul":

Only those who know the supremacy of the intellectual life—the life which has a seed of ennobling thought and purpose within it—can understand the grief of one who falls from that serene activity into the absorbing soul-wasting struggle with worldly annoyances:

In this stanza, as written in simple language, one can read that it is being told by a person who is now nowhere in his life and feeling as 'a soul wasting his time with worldly annoyances' but he says:that one who knows 'the supremacy of intellectual life, will perhaps be empathetic with him.

• Revelation of motives, impulses and hereditary influences, which govern human action:

When "Dorothea" come to know about "Casaubon's will, she was frustrated. Casaubon wanted to inherit on her, his property influence so that she would be restricted from marrying 'Will -Ladislaw'. As a governing action we can see here "Dorothea's determination to marry Will-Ladislaw" and as revelation of motives, we can see here "the will of Casaubon for Dorothea".

• Minutely explaining the motives of her characters:

Equally as we saw in aforementioned explicit description of "Casaubon's motives" we can take the similar example here as it is minutely explained here by mentioning 'Will - Ladislaw's name in property's will.

"Genius consisting neither in self-conceit nor in humilty, but in a power to making or do, not anything in general, but something in particular":

This stanza conveys the determined ideal will of Dorothea, where she as an idealistic woman believes in doing something in particular/unique rather than hurling herself into generalizations.

• Moral lesson(learning):

That by desiring what is perfectly good, even when we don't quite know what it is and cannot do what we would, we are part of the divine power against evil -- widening the skirts of light and making the struggle with darkness narrower".

The very stanza depicts a moral personality. If a person is influenced by pious morality, she/he would be enlightened by God's divine power and that particular personality may have such light that he/she will widen his/her skirts of enlightenment and will make everyone's struggle with darkness narrower.

• Her interest in development of a soul, the slow growth of moral power/declination:

Souls have complexions too: what will suit one will not suit another.

Many a times it happens that a person is stucked in between his/her choices, and due to undecidability one is unable to reach at any  willing conclusion and so as a result mental faculty becomes distortive sometime.

Thus we learnt here how "George Eliot" has mirrored all her life's experiences in all her works.

Thankyou
Samiya Kagdi
A learner at PG center
Department of English
MKBU




Applied Sources:
https://en.m.wikibooks.org/wiki/Oliver_Twist
W.J. Long's text: History of English Literature.