The-Victorian-Age英國文學維多利亞時期

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(jīng)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(xiàn)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(yōu)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(yè)，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(lián)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(tǒng)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(zhuǎn)變時期，經(jīng)濟、文化空前繁榮，君主立憲制得到充分發(fā)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(jīng)完成了資本主義工業(yè)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(mào)易最早始于茶葉、絲綢的貿(mào)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(jīng)濟體制使得英國的工業(yè)革命的產(chǎn)品毫無用武之地。為了扭轉(zhuǎn)對華貿(mào)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(fā)表了著名的演說，呼吁“為了大英帝國的利益”，向中國發(fā)動戰(zhàn)爭。第一次鴉片戰(zhàn)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(tǒng)治期間，英國國民空前團結(jié)，英國成為一個強大的帝國，并不斷壯大發(fā)展。這是女王給英國人留下的最好遺產(chǎn)，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(tǒng)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(zhuǎn)變時期，英國極度強盛，經(jīng)濟、文化空前繁榮，科學、藝術都有很大的發(fā)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(jīng)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