The Victorian Era - Queen Victoria

Part 1- The Young Princess

Queen Victoria, Queen of Great Britain from 1837 to 1901, gave her name to an age. We sure that readers out there are curious about her childhood. So, scroll down and read. Indulge !

Alexandrina Victoria was the daughter of Edward, the Duke of Kent and Princess Victoria of Saxe-Coburg.She was born in Kensington Palace in London on May 24th, 1819.

When she was only a few months old, Victoria’s father died, closely followed by his father, poor old King George. A paper preserved in the Windsor archives gives a touching account of the Duke's last hours. The Regent, on the 22nd of January, sent to him a message of solicitude and affection, expressing an anxious wish for his recovery. The Duke roused himself to enquire how the Prince was in health, and said, "If I could now shake hands with him, I should die in peace." A few hours before the end, one who stood by the curtain of his bed heard the Duke say with deep emotion, "May the Almighty protect my wife and child, and forgive all the sins I have committed." His last words — addressed to his wife — were, "Do not forget me." Before this, it is recorded that “the Regent was not kind to his brother,” and when the Duke of Kent died, it was found that “the poor Duke had left his family deprived of all means of existence.” Thus the position of the mother of the future sovereign, a young German princess, was soon left alone in this strange and not always very genial country.

The Duchess of Kent’s brother, Prince Leopold, hastened to her in her distress, and stood by his sister in all her future difficulties. Few women have had a severer piece of work to undertake. Though the mother of the future Queen, the Duchess of Kent was friendless in a home where she had as yet but little time to get acquainted. She was a foreigner, accustomed to different ways of living, and had not even the easy temperament of youth which accustoms itself to anything, for she was already over thirty when she married the Duke. While occupying so great a position, she was comparatively poor and could not withdraw with her child to her own country, to bring the little Princess up among her own people, cheaply and kindly, far away from the criticisms and extravagances, the late hours and bustle of English life.

But the Duchess of Kent had the temperate Coburg blood in her veins, and shared the sound sense and judgment of her race. She never forgot that her eight-month-old baby was the first Princess of the blood; English above all things, and imperatively requiring an English education.

She wrote,

“. . . by the death of her revered father when she was but eight months old, her  [Victoria’s] sole care and charge devolved to me. Stranger as I then was, I became deeply impressed with the absolute necessity of bringing her up entirely in this country, that every feeling should be that of Her native land, and proving thereby my devotion to duty by rejecting all those feelings of home and kindred that divided my heart. . . .  When the Princess approached her fifth year I considered it the proper time to begin in a moderate way her education — an education that was to fit Her to be either the Sovereign of these realms, or to fill a junior station in the Royal Family, until the Will of Providence should show at a later period what Her destiny was to be.”

The young Victoria was brought up with the strictest economy and regularity, as children of much lower position rarely are, and was taught at an early age to restrain her expenditure within the limits of her income, even when that income was but a child’s pocket-money. 

Miss Martineau gives us, in her sketch of the Duchess of Kent, a story which illustrates the carefulness of the training better than it does the abstract statement which precedes it

“The princess was reared in as much honesty and care about money matters as any citizen’s child.” Very few citizens’ children, we believe, ever were or could be so rigidly guarded from the extra shilling of expenditure. “It became known at Tunbridge Wells that the Princess had been unable to buy a box at the bazaar because she had spent her money. At this bazaar she had bought presents for almost all her relations, and had laid out her last shilling, when she remembered one cousin more, and saw a box priced half a crown which would suit him. The shop people of course placed the box with the other purchases, but the little lady’s governess admonished them by saying, ‘No; you see the Princess has not got the money; therefore, of course, she can not buy the box.’ This being perceived, the next offer was to lay by the box till it could be purchased; and the answer was, ‘Oh, well, if you will be so good as to do that.’ On quarter-day, before seven in the morning, the Princess appeared on her donkey to claim her purchase.”

This little princess, is educated with much care, and watched so closely that no busy maid has a moment to whisper, ‘You are heir of England!’ .The little Princess neither at that time nor for years after knew anything of her preeminence. No one had been allowed, as is mentioned above, to breathe a word of this in the child’s ear. But events now began to happen which changed her position to a certain extent. King George IV died, which brought the Princess a step nearer to the throne, and there was no longer any reasonable prospect that King William could have children to succeed him. Thus the child of Kensington Palace became beyond all doubt the next in succession. Because the young Victoria was only twelve, a bill was brought into Parliament to make the Duchess of Kent Regent in case her daughter should be called upon to ascend the throne before she came of age. When these public precautions were taken, it was thought necessary to inform the little girl herself of her true position that she was not merely one of a band of Princes and Princesses, but the first among them, the future head of the race. She was in the midst of her daily lessons somewhat surprised, it would seem, at the grave work required from her, which was not expected from the other Princesses — when this great intimation was made to her. The story is told in a letter from her governess, the Baroness Selwyn, to the Queen, written in 1854, and apparently recalling to her the incidents of her youth:

“I ask your Majesty’s leave to cite some remarkable words of your Majesty’s when only twelve years old, while the Regency Bill was in progress. I then said to the Duchess of Kent that now, for the first time, your Majesty ought to know your place in the succession. Her Royal Highness agreed with me, and I put the genealogical table into the historical book." When Mr. Davys [the Queens instructor, after the Bishop of Peterborough] was gone, the Princess Victoria opened the book again as usual, and seeing the additional paper, said, ‘I never saw that before.’ ‘It was not thought necessary you should, Princess,’ I answered. ‘I see I am nearer the throne than I thought.’ ‘So it is, madam,’ I said. After some moments the Princess resumed: ‘Now many a child would boast, but they don’t know the difficulty. There is much splendor, but there is much responsibility.’ The Princess, having lifted up the forefinger of her right hand while she spoke, gave me that little hand, saying, "I will be good. I understand now why you urged me so much to learn even Latin. My cousins Augusta and Mary never did, but you told me Latin is the foundation of English grammar, and of all the elegant expressions, and I learned it as you wished it, but I understand all better now; and the little Princess gave me her hand, repeating, ‘I will be good.’”

Marriage in 19th Century

Greetings!!!
Hai!! im Atiqa. this is my FIRST entry for this literature blog. just want you guys know that im not really good in writing and i always jumble up my grammar :p anyway, i've done a few research about 19th century. here is my very short summery for this title.
                                               HAPPY READING <3
*i want to keep it as simple as i can because LESS IS MORE right??  XD

Queen Victoria and Albert wedding ceremony

1. Women in this era are expected to marry and have children.

unknown portrait mother with her daughter in 19th century

The idea of getting married so that the husband can take care of them and the children.

2. When a woman got married her wealth was passed to her husband.
 if a woman worked after marriage, her earning belong to her spouse. 

picture of working women in 19th century

3. When comes to divorce issue it is difficult for woman to obtained divorce.

Only man in this era has the right to divorce woman if they committed adultery.

 4. However, women were not able to obtain divorce even though the husband committing adultery.

 

5. Once husband and wife divorce their children are man’s PROPERTY and woman is prevented from seeing her children. Because in this era single mother or divorcee are considered as bad woman.

#link for further reading
http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/Wmarriage.htm

source:http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/Wmarriage.htm
picture: google image

19th Century Economy and Politics.

During the early 19^Th century, politics and economy were falling apart. There was a great depression in industries, farming and stock market. People start losing jobs and become the victims of this economy revolution. There are few major  events and riot during the 19^Th century. Most workers started to realize that they had been used and exploited by the industry.

Figure 1: Graphic that shows the economy revolution during 1830’s

Figure 2: Comic strips showing the workers fighting for their rights.(source: google image)

Figure 3: Workers working long hours but paid insufficiently. (source: google image)

link:

http://history1800s.about.com/od/thegildedage/a/financialpanics.htm

In the 19^Th century also there are few war broke down and the French empire being defeated  by superior powers such as British Empire, German Empire and the United States. The politics all around the world had changed in the 19^Th century. They started to implement new politics ideology such as Zionism. During the 19^Th century  also, slavery was greatly reduced all around the world.

Figure  4: Parliament during the 19^Th century.

Figure 5: The end of slavery in the 19^Th century.(Source: google image)

19th Century Social Hierarchy

Social Hierarchy Pyramid

1. Who were in the upper most classes??

The upper classes (the aristocracy) were as follows: the royal family,

lords spiritual and temporal, great officers of state, and those above

the degree of baronet. Below these, baronets, knights, country

gentlemen, and others with large incomes. (p. 122, Everyday Life in

Regency and Victorian England, by Kristine Hughes, Writer’s Digest Book :

 http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/158297280X/qid=1103483017/sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i1_xgl14/002-6167993-5862431?v=glance&s=books&n=507846

9488546 » Stock Photo - Hugh Percy, 3rd Duke of Northumberland (1785-1847) on engraving from 1839. British aristocrat and Tory politician who served as Lord Lieutenant of Ireland under the Duke of Wellington during 1829-1830. Engraved by Holl after a painting by G.Ward and publi 

 A movie scene from "The Duchess"

 A portrait of Napoleon Bonaparte

2. Was there a middle class?? 

Yes. The middle class was made up of factory owners, bankers, 

shopkeepers, merchants, lawyers, engineers, and other 

professionals, in addition to some clergymen. The “middle class”

can be divided into sections: "the upper middle class" consisting 

of professionals (like doctors, lawyers, and clergymen), 

and the lower middle class(consisting of self made  business men,

civil servants, and the like).

 Medical Instruments in that era.

 An example of medical check up during that era.

For more information, see:

The Middle Class? at Time Travelers Guide to Victorian Britain:

http://www.channel4.com/history/microsites/H/history/guide19/part05.html#middleclass

Change in 19th Century Class System at Romance Ever After:

http://www.channel4.com/history/microsites/H/history/guide19/part05.html#middleclass

The Rise of the Victorian Middle Class at the BBC:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/society_culture/society/middle_classes_01.shtml

3. Who composed the lower classes?? 

The British lower class was divided into two sections: "the working

class" (laborers), and "the poor" (those who were not working, or not

working regularly, and were receiving public charity).

 Workers in milling factories.

 Workers in textile factories.

For more information, see:

"The Working Class" and "The Poor" at Time Traveler's Guide to

Victorian Britain: http://www.channel4.com/history/microsites/H/history/guide19/part05.

html#workingclass

"Conditions of the Working Class and Child Labor" at 

http://www.channel4.com/history/microsites/H/history/guide19/part05.html#middleclass

4. What were the various occupations of each class??   

The royalty were rulers, and people of leisure. The upper class avoided having 

any discernable occupation, although some men became higher-ranking officials 

in the military, or high-ranking officials of state. The middle class consisted 

of men who had professions such as doctor, lawyer, clergy, banker, and some 

wealthy merchants, ship owners, etc. The lower class contained men, 

women, and children performing many types of labor, including factory workers, 

seamstresses, sweepers, miners, and the like. For more information about 

Victorian occupations, 

see: 

 Victorian Occupations at Victorian Web

:http://www.victorianweb.org/history/work/workov.html 

Victorian Women’s Occupations at 

http://www.victorianweb.org/gender/femeconov.html 

5. Where were traders located in the social system??   

 According to A Treatise on the Wealth, Power, and Resources 

of the British Empire? (1814), quoted on p. 122, Everyday Life 

in Regency and Victorian England, traders were considered 

fourth class, or (In other words) middle class.

6. How did the upper classes react to the lower classes?? 

The world of the upper class was so entirely different from that 

of the lower class (they were, in a real sense, living in another world),

 that among the wealthy, there was little understanding for the poor.

Because there was little understanding, there was often little 

sympathy, and rarely any really meaningful attempts to make the 

lives of the lower class any more pleasant.

7. Was everyone given the right to vote and legislate?? 

No. Women of any class were not allowed to vote, and not even all 

men were allowed to vote. Just before Queen Victoria took the thrown, 

a law was passed that allowed a greater number of men to vote. 

"textended" the vote to male householders paying annual rents of between

£2 and £50 (depending on where they lived). (The Vote at Time 

Traveler’s Guide to Victorian Britain:

http://www.channel4.com/history/microsites/H/history/guide19/part04.html

One Person With A Belief Social Power Quote

Infamous John Stuart Mill political quote!

English philosopher and utilitarian John Stuart still influences our ideas today. J.S. Mill was an influential British Classical liberal thinker of the 19th century whose works on liberty justified freedom of the individual in opposition to unlimited state control. Quotation says the following: "One person with a belief is a social power equal to ninety-nine who have only interests." No need to be a politician or political scientist to enjoy intelligent attitude gifts. For all those who understand the social power of belief!

http://www.zazzle.com/one_person_with_a_belief_social_power_quote_mousepad-144350261112908709

There was talk of household suffrage, which would give any male 

head of the house the right to vote, but the upper class was fearful of 

passing such a law. Still, in 1867, household suffrage was

passed. By the 1870s, some British women were allowed to vote 

in local elections only.

The government consisted of a constitutional monarchy. Only the 

royalty could rule. Other politicians come from the aristocracy. 

As late as 1880, of 652 elected MPs, more than half 394   

are nobles,baronets and landed gentry. The unelected House 

of Lords is, by definition, full of aristocrats. The Aristocracy at 

Time Traveler’s Guide to Victorian Britain:

http://www.channel4.com/history/microsites/H/history/guide19/part05.html#aristocracy

Of course, like any group of individuals, reaction to the upper class

by the lower class varied; in addition, since the poor could rarely

write, their only voice came from journalists and authors who learnt a

sympathetic ear to their plight. Generally speaking, Victorian

literature portrays the poor it as resenting the rich--just as they do

today. Or, it portrays the poor with a reaction of bemusement toward

the rich. Again, the life of the poor was so dramatically different

from that of the wealthy, that neither attitude is difficult to

understand.

19th Century

19^th  Century Fashion

19^th century’s fashion is famously know as Victorian fashion. Victorian fashion comprises the various fashions and trends in British cultures that emerged and grew in province throughout the Victorian era and the reign of Victoria. Covering nearly two thirds of the 19th century, the 63 year reign would see numerous changes in fashion for the men and women

    19^th century fashion is unique because the fashion or the clothing can symbolise the personality or the identity of its owner. It can be said that the clothing’s represent the status of the owner has in the society during the 19^th century. Women’s fashion has its own stages. n the 1840s and 1850s, women's gowns developed narrow and sloping shoulders, low and pointed waists, and bell-shaped skirts. Corsets, a knee-length chemise, and layers of flounced petticoats were worn under the gowns. In the 1860s, the skirts became flatter at the front and projected out more behind the woman. In the 1870s, uncorseted tea gowns were introduced for informal entertaining at home and steadily grew in popularity. Bustles were used to replace the crinoline to hold the skirts up behind the woman, even for "seaside dresses". In the 1880s, riding habits had a matching jacket and skirt (without a bustle), a high-collared shirt or chemisette, and a top hat with a veil. In the 1890s, women's fashion became simpler and less extravagant; both bustles and crinoline fell out of use and dresses were not as tight as before. Corsets were still used but became slightly longer, giving women a slight S-curve silhouette. Skirts took on a trumpet shape, fitting closely over the hip with a wasp-waist cut and flaring just above the knee. High necks and puffed sleeves became popular.

     Meanwhile, for the men’s fashion, During the 1840s, men wore tight-fitting, calf length frock coats and a waist coats or vest. The shirts were made of linen or cotton with low collars, occasionally turned down, and were worn with wide cravats or neck ties. Trousers had fly fronts, and breeches were used for formal functions and when horseback riding. Men wore top hats, with wide brims in sunny weather.  During the 1850s, men started wearing shirts with high upstanding or turnover collars and four-in-hand neckties tied in a bow, or tied in a knot with the pointed ends sticking out like "wings". The upper-class continued to wear top hats, and bowler hats were worn by the working class. In the 1860s, men started wearing wider neckties that were tied in a bow or looped into a loose knot and fastened with a stickpin.  The fashion during 1870 and 1880 is very much similar to the 1860. However, starting from the 1890s, the blazer was introduced, and was worn for sports, sailing, and other casual activities.  Other than clothing, the men was also famous for their various forms of facial hair including moustaches, side-burns, and full beards. A clean-shaven face did not come back into fashion until the end of the 1880s and early 1890s. 

This website has the example of the men and women's 19th century's fashion :

http://www.gentlemansemporium.com/gentlemans.php

Fellowship Of The Blog

(from left:Wardah,Arantxa,Atiqah,Hilmi,Alim)

Assalamualaikum and hello to everyone,

Here we are in the cyberspace using technologies and gadgets to spread the words and knowledge about 19th century literature.We are from English Language and Literature Studies(ELLS),Universiti Sains Malaysia hoping that our blog will be useful for you in your quest in learning and become passionate in literature.;)

By the way,we would love for you to drop any constructive comments.Thank you and wishing all of you a happy day.;)