British have to impose their superiority ( GOD'S OBLIGATION) to NATIVE POPULATION
colonial writers as R. Kipling
exaltend the concept of
'THE WHITE MAN'S BURDEN'
expansion of the empire= MISSION
IN :
-way of life
-law
politics institutions
DARWINISM
Literature: NATURALISM
phylosophy: DARWINISM
Naturalism is a literary current developed in France in the 2nd half of XIXth century. It explains the reality in its scientific aspects and it is founded on the concept of the 'natural selection'
scientific dicovery, geology and biology gave a question: ' is the universe transparen and stable to intellect?'
BIBLE:
his story is discarded by Darwin, in fact he thinks that weakest species deserve to be defeated.
'On the origin of species':
man is the result of a process of evolutions and in the fight for life only the strongest species survived
The Victorian Age (1837-1901)
STABILITY and GREAT SOCIAL REFORMS
POVERTY and INJUSTICE SOCIAL UNREST
Victorian emphasis upon moral conduct was influenced by Evangelicalism
values respected by all social classes(expecially BOURGEOISIE)
BUT
they wanted to APPEAR RESPECTABLE only in front of society.
Answer the following questions about 'Victorian Age':
1) Which are the fundamental aspects of the 'Victorian Age'?
2)What is the code of values based on?
3)How is Victorian society's structure?
4)What is 'Patriotism'?
5)In the Victorian Age which were the most important books that talk about the origin of the world and its inhabitants?
SOCIETY
In 'The Picture of Dorian Gray' Oscar Wilde describes Victorian society: middle class is characterised by 'DUBLE FACE' and hypocritical manners.
SEXUALITY (repressed) vs PRUDERY
-rejection of words with sexual connotation
from everyday vocabulary
- refuse of nudity in art
POOR PEOPLE
STRAY CHILDREN
DRUNKEN MEN
FALLEN WOMEN
fallen women: single women with a child
ostracised and emarginated by the society
THOMAS HARDY
'Tess of the D'Urbervilles'
RESPECTABLY was:
-morality
-hypocrisy
-severity
-conformity
-female chastity
MIDDLE CLASS: society's values were applicated to FAMILY
-CHILDREN'S EXPLOITATION and HOUSE'S MANAGING by WOMAN
-MAN'S authority
-patriarchal unity
the Victorian Compromise
PATRIOTISM:
pride and national fervar with ideas of RACIAL SUPERIORITY
find an apparent
confirmation at the
variety of the races
and people
RACES: divided by
physical and intellectual
differences.
VICTORIAN VALUES:
AUTHORITY
-CHARITY
-RESPECTABILITY
-HARD WORK
-DUTY
UTILITARIANISM
KEY WORDS:
-usefulness
-happiness
-avoidance of pain
the utilitarians ( Jeremy Bentham) neglected human
and cultural values: any problem could be overcome
trough reason
It wants to find an EQUILIBRE between the oppisite parts of society
EVANGELICALISM
inspired by John Weasley,
the founder of methodism.
It advocated - sunday observance
- stict code of behaviour
- Dedication to humanitarian
causes and social reforms.
EMPIRICISM
legislation should help men
with positive aspects represented
by MENTAL ENERGY
-EDUCATION
-ART
-REFORMS for POPULAR EDUCATION
emancipaton of women
-trade union organisation
-co-operatives
-extension of representation
to all citizens
Dickens and Mill
