Victorian Morality

Definition

Victorian morality refers to the social and cultural values prevalent in Britain during the reign of Queen Victoria (1837-1901), characterized by strict codes of conduct regarding propriety, sexual restraint, and the importance of family. This set of values emphasized modesty, respectability, and a clear moral code that shaped societal expectations and behaviors across various aspects of life.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Victorian morality was heavily influenced by the rise of the middle class, who sought to differentiate themselves from the lower classes through strict adherence to social norms.
2. This moral framework often dictated gender roles, emphasizing women's purity and virtue while allowing men more freedom, leading to significant gender inequality.
3. Literature from this period often critiques or reflects Victorian moral values, showcasing the tension between societal expectations and individual desires.
4. The concept of respectability was crucial; people were judged based on their adherence to social conventions, impacting social mobility and reputation.
5. Victorian morality contributed to the stigmatization of topics like sexuality, leading to a culture where discussions around such issues were often suppressed or viewed with disdain.

Review Questions

• How did Victorian morality influence gender roles in society during this period?
  • Victorian morality significantly shaped gender roles by imposing strict expectations on men and women. Women were expected to embody virtues such as purity and submission, fulfilling roles primarily as wives and mothers within the domestic sphere. In contrast, men enjoyed more freedom in public life but were still held to standards of respectability. This created an unequal dynamic where women's social worth was largely defined by their adherence to these moral ideals.
• Discuss how Victorian morality is reflected in the literature produced during this era, providing specific examples.
  • Victorian literature often grapples with themes related to morality, societal expectations, and personal conflict. For example, in Thomas Hardy's 'Tess of the d'Urbervilles', Tess's tragic fate illustrates the harsh consequences of Victorian moral standards regarding female sexuality. Similarly, Charles Dickens’ works frequently highlight social injustices and moral dilemmas faced by characters navigating a rigidly moral society. These narratives reveal both an adherence to and a critique of Victorian values.
• Evaluate the impact of Victorian morality on the development of social reform movements in Britain during the 19th century.
  • Victorian morality played a dual role in shaping social reform movements in Britain. On one hand, it spurred efforts to address social issues such as poverty and education reform through a lens of moral responsibility. Reformers often emphasized moral upliftment for the lower classes. On the other hand, it also led to backlash against perceived hypocrisy within these moral codes, inspiring movements that challenged restrictive norms surrounding gender and sexuality. Thus, while Victorian morality helped mobilize reform efforts, it also laid bare the contradictions inherent in its application.

Related terms

Puritanism: A religious reform movement in the late 16th and 17th centuries that sought to 'purify' the Church of England from its Catholic practices, promoting a lifestyle of strict moral discipline and simplicity.

Social Darwinism:

A theory that applied Charles Darwin's ideas of natural selection to human society, suggesting that certain social groups were more 'fit' for survival, which often justified class distinctions and moral superiority.

The Cult of Domesticity: A prevailing value system in the 19th century that emphasized women's roles as homemakers and moral guardians of the family, promoting virtues like piety, purity, submissiveness, and domesticity.