Victorian Morality

Definition

Victorian morality refers to the set of social and ethical beliefs that emerged during the Victorian era in Britain, emphasizing morality, propriety, and self-discipline. This ideology was characterized by strict codes of conduct regarding sexuality, family values, and social behavior, and had a profound influence on literature, art, and societal norms of the time. It shaped the expectations placed on individuals and reinforced ideas about gender roles, class distinctions, and the importance of reputation.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Victorian morality was rooted in the belief that personal behavior should reflect moral integrity and self-restraint, often in opposition to perceived immorality or vice.
2. This moral code placed significant restrictions on women's behavior, promoting ideals of femininity that emphasized modesty, purity, and domesticity.
3. The concept of 'the separate spheres' emerged from Victorian morality, which dictated that men belonged in public life while women were confined to the domestic sphere.
4. Victorian morality heavily influenced literature of the time, leading authors to address themes of hypocrisy, sexual repression, and moral dilemmas within their works.
5. Critics of Victorian morality, such as Oscar Wilde, used satire to expose its limitations and contradictions, advocating for more liberal views on art and society.

Review Questions

• How did Victorian morality shape the themes present in the poetry of the era?
  • Victorian morality influenced poets by imposing themes of duty, respectability, and emotional restraint in their works. Poets like Alfred Lord Tennyson often grappled with notions of loss and idealized love within the constraints of societal expectations. This led to a tension between personal feelings and public propriety that became a hallmark of Victorian poetic style.
• Analyze how Oscar Wilde's aestheticism challenged Victorian moral values in his writings.
  • Oscar Wilde's aestheticism stood in stark contrast to Victorian moral values by prioritizing beauty and artistic expression over traditional morals. In works like 'The Picture of Dorian Gray,' Wilde critiques the rigid moral codes of his time by showcasing characters who indulge in hedonistic pleasures without facing conventional consequences. This subversion highlights the hypocrisy underlying Victorian morality and suggests a more complex understanding of ethics.
• Evaluate the impact of Victorian morality on character development in novels during this period.
  • Victorian morality significantly impacted character development by creating complex protagonists often caught between societal expectations and personal desires. Characters like Tess from Hardy's 'Tess of the d'Urbervilles' or Pip from Dickens' 'Great Expectations' illustrate struggles against moral standards imposed by society. These narratives reveal how characters navigate shame, guilt, and redemption in a society that harshly judges deviation from its moral code.

Related terms

Aestheticism:

Aestheticism is an art movement that emphasizes beauty and artistic expression over moral or social themes, often challenging Victorian moral standards.

Social Darwinism: Social Darwinism is a social theory that applies the concept of 'survival of the fittest' to human societies, often used to justify social inequality during the Victorian era.

Realism: Realism is a literary movement that sought to represent everyday life and society accurately, often highlighting the conflicts between Victorian moral standards and reality.