Introduction
It is believed that the Victorian period, which was characterized by Queen Victoria's reign, lasted from the 1830s to the 1900s. Numerous political, economic, and social developments occurred during this time. The Communist Manifesto's publication, population and economic growth, technological advancements, and the emergence of scientific beliefs like Darwin's Theory of Evolution and Natural Selection are just a few of the significant historical events that occurred during this time period.
Literary Works and Social Awareness
Literary works from the Victorian era, which came immediately after the Romantic Movement time, frequently dealt with social awareness. Artists greatly emphasized on the need for a moral and social revolution by communicating injustices and oppressions of the people to the audiences. The Victorian era was marked by a rise in industrialization hence a decrease in labor reliance. This led to an escalation in urban migration by unemployed rural citizens. The resultant effect was a growth in slum development and a generalized decrease in the workers quality of life. Additionally, the period was marked by male dominance and rampant violations of women's rights on account of societal norms and beliefs. It is for these reasons that most artists, among them Charles Dickens and Robert Browning, sought to enlighten the masses on mental emancipation.
Robert Browning's Poem - My Last Duchess
Robert Browning's poem, My Last Duchess, is a classic piece that vividly interprets to the audience the societal structure of the Victorian era with regard to gender roles and expectations. The poem is a dialogue between a Duke, who is a widower, and a royal messenger. They converse on the marriage terms between the Duke and his bride to be. At the onset of the conversation, the Duke leads him to an art chamber from where he introduces a portrait of his former wife. From the poem, it is observed that the Duke is not pleased with the Duchess' behavior as she was easily appeased, a trait he translated as flirtatious. The Duke ultimately settles on resolving the issue by ordering the death of the Duchess. The Duke states, "Much the same smile? This grew, I gave commands; / Then all smiles stopped together." (45-46)
Robert Browning's Poem - Porphyria's Lover
Robert Browning's other poem, Porphyria's Lover, is a soliloquy that narrates the tale of an anonymous man consumed with emotions of possession which ultimately drive him to commit murder in a frantic effort to keep his lover to himself. At the beginning of the poem, the poet engraves onto the audiences' mind a custom fireplace image, where a blonde woman steps in from a storm, lights a fire and afterward proceeds to sit at the man's side for a cuddle. A one-sided conversation ensues, and it is then that the man learns his lover 'worships him' and is faced with the fear of losing her as a result of societal pressures. He then strangles her with her mane and lays her lifeless body next to him for the remaining hours of the night. The narrator ends the poem while questioning why God hadn't reproached him yet: he remarks "And all night long we have not stirred/ And yet God has not said a word" (59-60).
Domineering Male Characters in Victorian Society
In both literary pieces, a domineering male character associated with the Victorian era is brought to light. A sense of chauvinism is observed by the audience where women were considered subjects under the control of both the Society, which was largely patriarchal and the male figure. This is interpreted from the character's resort to murder the women as a means of controlling them. In contrast, however, the male characters in the two poems, despite having a common response to sexism, have differing motives. On the one hand, the Duke in My Last Duchess murders his wife in an attempt to uphold morality in women while the anonymous narrator in Porphyria's Lover commits murder largely because he cannot let go of his forbidden fetish. This shows the contrasting views of the Victorian society on feminine sexuality where, on the one hand, the women are punished for their sexual identity, while on the other, the society secretly celebrates femininity.
The Plight of Women in the Victorian Era
The plight of women in the Victorian era, and partly so in modern times, has been marred by social and political oppression. However, attempts at promoting gender equality through such means as lobbying have proven to be of immense benefit to the modern woman. Nonetheless, the role of literary art in social education throughout the years remains to be undoubtedly irreplaceable.
Works Cited
Abcarian, Richard, and Marvin Klotz. Literature: The Human Experience. New York: St. Martin's 1973. Print.
Browning, Robert, James F. Loucks, and Andrew M. Stauffer. Robert Browning's Poetry: Authoritative Texts, Criticism. New York: W.W. Norton 2007. Print.
Wilson, A.W. The Victorians. New York: W.W Norton, 2003. Print.
