International Journal of Advance and Applied Research
[Link]
ISSN – 2347-7075 Impact Factor – 8.141
Peer Reviewed Bi-Monthly
Vol.5 No.38 Sept-Oct 2024
The impact of industrial revolution on literature in the Victorian period
Smt. Chetana Sanjay Warkad
M.A. (Eng), SET (Eng), Chh. Sambhajinagar
Corresponding Author: Smt. Chetana Sanjay Warkad
DOI-
Abstract:
The Victorian period, marked by the profound transformations of the Industrial Revolution, witnessed
significant shifts in literature that reflected and critiqued the changing social, economic, and cultural landscapes.
This paper explores the impact of industrialization on literary themes, forms, and genres during the 19th century. It
examines how authors such as Charles Dickens, George Eliot, and Thomas Hardy addressed issues of
urbanization, class struggle, and moral dilemmas arising from industrial society. By analyzing key texts, the study
highlights the interplay between industrial progress and literary innovation, illustrating how literature served both
as a mirror of societal change and as a vehicle for social critique. Ultimately, this research underscores the vital
role of Victorian literature in shaping contemporary understandings of industrialization and its multifaceted
effects on human experience.
Keywords: Industrial Revolution, Victorian literature, Urbanization, Class struggle, Literary themes
Introduction: During the Victorian era, the industrial revolution
The Victorian period, spanning from 1837 led to a massive migration of people from rural
to 1901, was a time of unprecedented change in villages to urban cities is vividly illustrated in
Britain, driven largely by the Industrial Revolution. several keyworks of literature.
This era not only transformed the landscape of the Hard times by Charles Dickens: The novel is set
nation through urbanization and technological in the fictional town of coketown, a representation
advancements but also fundamentally altered the of industrial cities characterized by pollution,
social fabric and cultural consciousness of its overcrowding and bleakness. The stark contract
people. Literature during this time reflects these between the industrial landscape and the characters’
seismic shifts, with authors grappling with the lives emphasize the dehumanizing effects of
complexities of a rapidly industrializing world. As industrialization. In this novel the factory workers
cities expanded, traditional ways of life were leaving their rural home for urban jobs highlighting
disrupted, giving rise to new moral questions and the social and economic upheaval caused by
social issues. Writers such as Charles Dickens, industrialization. Many characters, like Stephen
George Eliot, and Thomas Hardy engaged with Blackpool, leave their rural homes in search of
these themes, using their narratives to critique the better employment opportunities in factories.
consequences of industrialization and to explore the However, this transition often leads to harsh
human condition amidst such transformative forces. realities.
This paper aims to examine the intricate relationship The workers face grueling conditions, long
between the Industrial Revolution and Victorian hours, and minimal pay, revealing the exploitation
literature, focusing on how literary works not only inherent in industrial capitalism. Dickens illustrates
mirrored the realities of industrial society but also how the move to urban areas strips individuals of
served as platforms for social commentary and their identities and connections to community,
reform. By analyzing key texts from this period, we replacing them with a mechanical existence. The
can better understand how literature responded to contrast between the idealized rural past and the
the challenges and aspirations of an era defined by grim urban present underscores the loss of dignity
change, thereby illuminating the enduring impact of and humanity, raising questions about the true cost
the Industrial Revolution on the literary canon. of progress. Through these experiences, Dickens
Urbanization: critiques the societal values that prioritize profit
Urbanisation in Victoria literature reflects over the well-being of workers.
the profound changes in society during the 19th In Elizabeth Gaskell’s “Mary Barton,”
century as cities rapidly grew due to the theme of urbanization is central to the narrative,
industrialisation. The shift brought both illustrating the profound impact of industrialization
opportunities and challenges, influencing various on the lives of the working class. The city of
themes and character portrayals in literature. Manchester serves as a backdrop, showcasing both
its economic opportunities and its harsh realities.
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Urbanization brings about overcrowding, using this setting to highlight class tensions and the
poor living conditions, and the exploitation of labor, dynamics of industrial capitalism.
leading to significant social struggles. Gaskell The novel juxtaposes the industrial town of Milton
highlights the stark contrast between the wealth of (representing the North) with the pastoral South.
factory owners and the poverty of workers, The North is characterized by factories and labor
emphasizing the dehumanizing effects of industrial struggles, while the South embodies traditional
society. The novel critiques the moral and social agriculture and a different social order. This contrast
consequences of urban growth, revealing how it illustrates the broader economic and cultural shifts
strains community bonds and exacerbates class occurring during the Industrial Revolution
divisions. The interactions between characters from
Through characters’ experiences, Gaskell different backgrounds reveal the friction between
underscores the urgent need for social reform, the working class and mill owners. John Thornton, a
advocating for compassion and solidarity amidst the mill owner, embodies the capitalist perspective,
challenges of urban life. while characters like Margaret Hale and the workers
As the protagonist, Mary embodies the illustrate the struggles faced by laborers. Gaskell
struggles of the working class. Her life in industrial portrays the mill workers’ harsh conditions,
Manchester showcases the harsh realities of urban including long hours and poor wages, emphasizing
living, including poverty and overcrowding. Mary’s their vulnerability and need for fair treatment.
journey reflects the hope for a better future amid the Social changes:
challenges posed by the city. Emergence of the Middle Class
Class struggle: The Industrial Revolution led to the rise of
The class struggle during the Industrial a wealthy middle class composed of factory owners,
Revolution is a prominently seen in Victorian merchants, and professionals. This group gained
literature, often explored through the lens of social economic influence and began to challenge the
injustice, economic disparity, and the struggles of traditional aristocracy. The middle class emphasized
the working class. respectability, hard work, and education, promoting
In “Hard Times,” Charles Dickens a culture of self-improvement. These values became
vividly illustrates class struggle through various the benchmark for societal expectations, shaping
characters and their interactions, highlighting the public morals and attitudes.
stark divide between the working class and the Working Class Conditions
industrial elite. Charles Dickens explores class Rapid urbanization resulted in overcrowded
struggle primarily through the contrasting lives of cities, where many working-class families lived in
characters from different social strata. The industrial substandard housing. Tenements often lacked basic
elite, represented by figures like Mr. Gradgrind and sanitation, leading to health crises.
Mr. Bounderby, embody the cold, utilitarian values Factory work was characterized by long hours, low
of the age, prioritizing facts and profit over human wages, and unsafe environments. Child labor was
emotion and welfare. In contrast, characters like prevalent, with young children working in
Stephen Blackpool and the factory workers illustrate hazardous conditions for meager pay.
the harsh realities of the working class, facing Reform Movements:
exploitation and a lack of agency. Child Labor Laws: Activists highlighted the
Dickens uses their interactions to highlight exploitation of child workers, leading to
the stark divide between these classes. For instance, legislation like the Factory Acts, which aimed
Gradgrind’s rigid educational philosophy stifles to limit working hours for children and improve
creativity and individuality, reflecting the broader their conditions. These laws gradually increased
societal disregard for the needs of the working class. the age at which children could work and
Meanwhile, Stephen’s struggles emphasize the established minimum working conditions.
moral and social dilemmas faced by laborers, Labor Rights: The rise of trade unions in the
showcasing their resilience despite systemic 19th century represented the working class’s
oppression. fight for better wages, shorter hours, and safer
Through these character dynamics, Dickens conditions. Union efforts were crucial in
critiques the dehumanizing effects of advocating for labor rights and negotiating with
industrialization and advocates for empathy and employers.
social reform, ultimately illustrating the profound Public Health and Housing: Reformers
impact of class struggle on individual lives and campaigned for improved sanitation and
society as a whole. housing conditions. Public health acts were
In “North and South,” Elizabeth Gaskell enacted to address issues of disease and
explores the profound contrasts between the overcrowding, leading to better infrastructure
industrial North and the agrarian South of England, and health services in urban areas.
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Education Reforms: The importance of and social inequality. The speculative nature of the
education was recognized, leading to narrative encourages readers to reflect on their
compulsory schooling laws that aimed to world and consider the trajectory of progress.
provide children with basic education, thus While the concept of time travel is fantastical, the
breaking the cycle of poverty. social critique is grounded in realism. Wells draws
Women’s Rights: The reform movement also on the scientific advancements of his time, such as
included early efforts for women’s rights, Darwinian evolution and emerging industrial
advocating for better working conditions, technologies, to lend credibility to his narrative.
Educational opportunities, and suffrage. The novella poses significant moral
Women began to organize and push for changes questions about the responsibilities of those who
that would improve their social status. wield technological power. The consequences of the
The Victorian period was marked by a protagonist’s journey raise concerns about the ethics
transformative shift in social structures, with the of progress and the societal obligation to consider its
emergence of a middle class that influenced societal impact on all classes.
values and a working class facing severe hardships. In “The Time Machine,” H.G. Wells
Reform movements arose in response to these effectively captures the complexities of the
challenges, addressing issues like child labor and Industrial Revolution’s impact on society through
poor working conditions, ultimately laying the the lens of technology and progress. The stark
groundwork for modern labor rights and social divisions between the Eloi and Morlocks serve as a
justice in Britain. warning against the potential pitfalls of unbridled
Technology and progress technological advancement and social complacency.
The fascination with technology and Through his exploration of these themes, Wells
progress in the Victorian era is prominently encourages readers to critically assess the direction
illustrated in the works of H.G. Wells and Arthur of their own society and the implications of their
Conan Doyle, who explored the implications of choices regarding progress.
these advancements on society and morality. Conclusion:
H.G. Wells’s “The Time Machine” serves as a The Industrial Revolution profoundly
poignant critique of the societal changes brought transformed Victorian literature, reflecting the
about by the Industrial Revolution, particularly in complexities of a society undergoing rapid change.
terms of technology, progress, and social class. The shift from rural to urban living brought new
The division between the Eloi and the Morlocks social dynamics, which authors like Charles Dickens
symbolizes the extreme social stratification vividly depicted. The struggles of the urban poor
exacerbated by industrialization. The Eloi, living in became central themes, highlighting the challenges
a seemingly idyllic society, have become and moral dilemmas of city life. Literature during
complacent and reliant on technology for their this period often focused on the tensions between
survival. In contrast, the Morlocks, who toil different social classes. Writers explored the
underground, represent the working class exploited exploitation of the working class, as seen in the
by the very advancements that have allowed the Eloi works of authors like Elizabeth Gaskell, prompting
to thrive. readers to confront issues of inequality and justice.
The story challenges the notion of a perfect The evolving roles of women, shifts in family
society. The Eloi’s dependency on technology leads structures, and changing societal norms were critical
to their physical and intellectual decline, illustrating themes. Feminist literature emerged, advocating for
that unregulated progress can erode human qualities social reform and reflecting the growing awareness
and capabilities. of gender issues. The fascination with technological
The Time Machine itself embodies the era’s advancements was tempered by concerns about their
fascination with scientific advancement. However, consequences. H. G. Wells’s works, for instance,
Wells uses it to explore the potential consequences examined the ethical implications of scientific
of such technology. Time travel reveals the long- progress and its potential to dehumanize society.
term impacts of current societal choices, prompting Overall, Victorian literature serves as a rich tapestry
reflection on present-day values and ethics. that captures the anxieties and aspirations of its
The contrast between the natural world and time, encouraging critical reflection on the legacies
the technologically advanced society reflects of industrialization and the ongoing struggles for
concerns about environmental degradation during social justice and ethical progress.
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