The Victorian Era is marked by the depiction of the realistic vision of society and its hidden drawbacks. With the background of the Industrial Revolution, it causes social change through the portrayal of the plight of the poor and middle class. It develops the urging yearning in the middle class to come to terms with the upper class and have their best. The symbolic images presented in the Victorian novels, examine the pitfalls of the societal structures. Here are some reviews of the fiction of the Victorian era which will give a little insight into the basic themes of its and will help you admire its essence.
Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte is a great enthusiastic novel, embedded with a confused and strange story. It revolves around the obsessed love of Catherine and Heathcliff, which transforms itself into a baffled state of revenge. At the same time, it leaves impacts on the future generations. It’s about the world where the surrounding especially the place Wuthering Heights leaves its imprints on the characters. Its environment presents its deep relation with the character of Heathcliff as the name of Heathcliff is suggestive of the heath and cliff, the very demonstration of the presence of lands in the lives of the characters. So it’s a very impressionistic novel and you will surely like it. So you should grab it.
Another fictional writing of this era which is very influential and dynamic in its characteristics is Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte. It revolves around the female protagonist Jane. Her struggle depicts a very realistic image of the hardships of life. But at the same time, it provides hope and a sense of independence. The moralistic way that Jane adopts highlights the respect that every woman should give to her own self. These qualities of Jane make her attain happiness at the end of the novel in the right manner. So this novel is a complete depiction of the fiery woman who pays more importance to her respect, which lets her face the problems bravely. And I am sure that this fictional book will add something great to your knowledge and facts. So it’s my suggestion that you should add it to the TBR.
The next is Vanity Fair, one of the novels of Thackeray, which is again the representation of the hidden societal factors of the Victorian age. The intermingling of the family issues and the skirmishes of society make it an amazing readable novel. The main female protagonists Amelia and Becky Sharp are the victim of the social hierarchy and delusions. It hinders their way to a stable life as the status of the upper class is needed for their lives in the future times. The pervasiveness of human strife provides this novel with a sparky understanding. And you as a reader will surely enjoy it.
Thomas Hardy presents his alma mater, Tess of D’Urberville which describes the secret taboos of Victorian society in an effective manner. It provides a challenging read with the themes of love, betrayal, and the hindrances of the social hegemonic rules. The complexity of the ideas affects the life of Tess who is under the cruel hand of fate. The injustices to her by fate give a realistic vision of the tyranny imposed by societal confines. I think you should go and take hold of it and create empathy for the depressed Tess of Hardy.
Another Victorian fiction that stands the test of time is Adam Bede by George Eliot. It’s a lengthy novel but a completely provocative and reverberated one. Hetty, the heroine, loses everything for the fulfillment of her desires. Her fate brings sorrow to her. It explores the themes of love, loss, fate, and the burden of societal expectations. It delves deep into exploring the consequences of the characters’ choices which are rejected by fixed societal norms. This genre should be given reading as it will polish your vision of yours.
In a nutshell, Victorian fiction has many masterpieces and I have reviewed some of them. All the Victorian novels possessed deep structural plots and vivid characters which provide the intrinsic view of the Victorian age particularly and all the ages generally.
