Tolerance

Abstract

In this article I argue for the relevance of examining tolerance in Victorian literature in its specificity and particularly as distinct from sympathy. Following a recent reconceptualization of tolerance in philosophy and political theory, I argue for recovering the relevance of its roots in the Latin term tolerare, which means “to suffer,” “to endure,” and suggest that Victorian novels explore the cognitive, emotional, and physical pains involved in tolerance. Victorian studies thus add an important perspective to current discussions of tolerance, while, conversely, a focus on tolerance in Victorian literature reveals an important category as yet overshadowed by the strong focus on sympathy in the field.