Victorian Literature Research Articles

Adapting (to) Jane Eyre: Racial Violence, Intergenerational Trauma, and Black Optimism in Lauren Blackwood’s Within These Wicked Walls

This article draws on Fred Moten, Saidiya Hartman, and Christina Sharpe’s writings on ‘optimism,’ ‘wake work,’ and ‘fugitivity’ to present a reading of Lauren Blackwood’s 2021 rewriting of Charlotte Brontë's Jane Eyre as a metafiction of Black literary adaptation as survival. In rejecting the overdetermined stereotype of the mad subaltern woman as the localised focus of the novel’s commentary on racial violence, Within These Wicked Walls departs from twentieth-century, postcolonial responses to Jane Eyre exemplified by Gayatri Spivak’s reading of Wide Sargasso Sea to offer an explicitly Black and anti-racist rewriting of the Victorian novel. I show how Blackwood draws on the diasporic discourse of “Ethiopianism” and American genres of multiethnic and Black Gothic storytelling to explore the trauma of racialised violence (including its imperialist literature) as a cultural and intergenerational curse that must be faced, exorcised, and grieved by a younger generation. This analysis highlights the contributions Blackwood’s novel makes to the Black radical tradition, underscores the need for more Critical Race Theory in the study of Victorian literature, and reminds scholars of the vital role literary adaptation once played – and should still play – in criticism of race and imperialism in Victorian literature.

Far from the Madding Crowd at 150: Seven Reflections

ABSTRACT Seven scholars of Victorian literature reflect on Thomas Hardy’s Far from the Madding Crowd in honor of the 150th anniversary of its publication. The authors reflect their personal responses to the novel, and each has a unique focus.

“No Rest for the Wicked”: R.L. Stevenson’s “The Body Snatcher” and the Resisting Corpse of Victorian Resurrectionism

The subversive semantic power of the revenant or reanimated corpse in Victorian literature serves as a crucial indicator of the era’s preoccupation with the body as a cultural domain. Deeply entwined with the uneasy relationship between the advancement of anatomical science and criminality, the body is marked as the site of fraught boundaries imbued with social order and its attendant anxieties. This paper explores the narrative strategies of Stevenson’s short story “The Body Snatcher” (1884) where resurrectionist motifs resist the enforcement of the condition of anonymity that was entailed by anatomical dissection and signal the impossibility of closure through the trope of return of the repressed sub specie of the dissected cadaver. This dual ‘resistance’ culminates in the symbolism of the revenant corpse’s movement, abandoned in its progress towards the future. Stevenson’s story reveals a hermeneutic complexity that intertwines the themes of contamination, ethical collusion, commodification of the dead body through the entanglement of medical practice and narrative opacity. This offers further insights into the Victorian resurrectionist imagination, in the light of that ‘aura’ of the corpse which the regulation of the 1834 New Poor Amendment Act failed to dispel.

A New Historicist Perspective on The Question of Faith in W. Collins’ The Woman in White and E. B. Browning’s Aurora Leigh

The relationship between fiction and ideology is a crucial issue to many critical schools and theoretical approaches. Such an issue has been flowing smoothly across historical periods and influencing various social, historical, and cultural aspects. The Victorian era is one of these stages, and Victorian literature has played a significant role in determining the nature of such a relationship in the subsequent generations in England. Departing from the New Historicist theoretical framework, this study examines the views of two Victorian masterpieces, namely, W. Collins’ The Woman in White and E. B. Browning’s Aurora Leigh as both texts and contexts. Both are influenced by and influential in their circumstances. The subjectivities of the two authors are changed, and they are, at the same time, agents of change within their sociohistorical spheres. These literary works cannot be considered as only products of their times; they are also major players in creating new pathways for the development of people and culture. The conventional views of religion are questioned, and several inherent rules are constantly replaced by others. Although W. Collins and E. B. Browning explicitly voice their full adherence to religious beliefs and principles, skepticism becomes strongly expressed in some of their literary works while institutional faiths and their status are called into question in certain ways.

Mapping Melancholy: Sentiment Analysis of Emotional Trends in Victorian Literature

This paper explores the application of sentiment analysis techniques to understand the emotional landscape of Victorian literature. By analyzing a corpus of key Victorian novels, the study aims to uncover patterns of melancholy, joy, anger, and other emotions, providing insights into the socio-cultural context of the 19th century. The research employs natural language processing tools to quantify and visualize emotional trends, examining how these reflect the broader themes of industrialization, social change, and personal identity in Victorian England. Through this computational approach, the study contributes to both digital humanities and literary scholarship, offering a novel perspective on the emotional dimensions of classic literary works.

Review: Queer Economic Dissonance and Victorian Literature, by Meg Dobbins

Review: <i>Queer Economic Dissonance and Victorian Literature</i>, by Meg Dobbins

The Representation of the Self in Alfred Lord Tennyson's Poetry

Literary investigation of selfhood has long reflected human identity and introspection. Alfred Lord Tennyson's self-portraits are examined in this article. Tennyson's introspective lyrics illuminated Victorian consciousness during immense social and intellectual change. This article examines Tennyson's complex self-representation in selected poems. The essay places Tennyson's poetry in the context of Victorian literature and ideas, stressing selfhood's changing roles. It examines Tennyson's introspective study of emotions, wants, doubts, and fears. According to Tennyson's poems, the self's relationship to nature, society, and history is examined. A thematic analysis of seclusion, nostalgia, and existential pondering illuminates Tennyson's interest in the self's place in the ever-changing universe. It explores Tennyson's approach to memory and identity, showing how his poetic personas traverse the complex relationship between past and present identities. We conclude with Tennyson's poetics of change, where the self transforms and renews in the face of life's obstacles and uncertainties. This article illuminates Tennyson's literary language and influences on Victorian selfhood through attentive readings and critical analysis. It shows how Tennyson's verses reflect the Victorian self's complexity, inconsistencies, and existential aspirations; they resonate beyond time and invite readers to consider their identities in the ever-changing tapestry of human experience.

A Reconciliation with Reality and Self-preservation

ABSTRACT The untimely loss of a loved one is an excruciating ordeal. Renowned Victorian Scottish writer George MacDonald was obliged to face the recurring early deaths of family members all his lifetime. Drawing from the background of Victorian literature and his working experience in church, he forges a reconciliation with reality and realizes his self-preservation through religion. His masterpiece, At the Back of the North Wind, is the reflection of his life sufferings, inner world, and way of reconciliation with reality. By examining the characterization of Diamond and North Wind, two leading characters in the book, and the employment of his unique literary technique, this article aims to reveal his motivation in portraying the protagonist of the book—Diamond, a poor little boy living in London, and conclude MacDonald’s means of self-preservation, i.e., interpretation of early death: those who pass away at a young age are angels from heaven. After fulfilling their earthly missions, they return to a better realm they inherently belong to—Heaven. Hence, earthly life is only a fragment of human beings’ existence. MacDonald’s coming to terms with bereavement while facing death holds practical significance today, especially for the people suffering from the loss of loved ones during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Introduction: Reading Infrastructure in the Time of the Glitch

The nineteenth century is the period when so many of the infrastructures on which we rely for the transmission and distribution of ideas, people, and goods were, on one hand, established and standardized and, on the other, contested and transformed in practice. We argue that literary and cultural scholars of the nineteenth century can make major contributions to the transhistorical and transimperial work of critical infrastructure studies. The pieces in this special issue give us a picture of Victorian infrastructure that we have loosely organized into four major themes: Water and Waste; Death and Bodies; Periods and Punctuation; and Care and Aid. Whether close-reading literary representations of infrastructure or close-reading literature as infrastructure, these essays collectively show how Victorian literature moved people. Our contributors address the following questions, among others: How did the material structures that moved people, goods, and ideas make people feel? How did people's feelings, libidinal energies, and practices affect how infrastructures were imagined, designed, built, used, and transformed—in literature and in the world?

The Thematic Interpretation of Robert Brownings Renaissance Dramatic Monologue

Robert Brownings dramatic monologue is a unique form in British Victorian literature. Its unique style reflects various characteristics of that time, and therefore, by analyzing Brownings dramatic monologues, various aspects of Victorian society and culture, as well as individual roles and struggles, can be deeply understood. Moreover, Brownings works provide rich materials and profound thinking for literary research, and hold an important position in the field of literature. In order to better explain the styles of his works, this article provides an in-depth analysis of Brownings two famous poems, My Last Duchess and The Bishop Orders His Tomb at Saint Praxeds Church. These current article examine characters, themes, and historical backgrounds, showcasing Brownings unique approach to Renaissance content. In addition, this study compared Brownings Renaissance dramatic monologues with three Renaissance poets: Shakespeare , John Milton and William Wordsworth , this comparative analysis highlights the uniqueness of Brownings perspective, the differences in understanding the Renaissance compared to his predecessors, and his contribution to the genre of dramatic monologues. In summary, this study aims to reveal Robert Brownings artistic views and the subtle differences in themes in his Renaissance dramatic monologues. It provides an understanding of Brownings unique position in literary schools and his contributions to the literary world.

Unveiling Lady Audley’s Secret: Navigating Femininity, Autonomy, and Societal Constraints in Victorian Literature

The paper analyzes Lady Audley's Secret in the context of Victorian gender inequality. During this era, women faced societal expectations rooted in domesticity, limiting their access to education and public life. Braddon's novel challenges these norms, portraying a complex heroine, Lady Audley, who engages in criminal activities to navigate the constraints of her gender and social expectations. The novel explores themes of economic dependence, the limitations of marriage, and the use of madness as a societal tool. Lady Audley's character embodies paradoxes, reflecting the tension between societal ideals and individual desires. Braddon's portrayal of ordinary women's struggles provides a nuanced perspective on femininity, challenging the prevailing stereotypes of the time. The analysis examines the societal implications of madness and the consequences of resisting prescribed gender roles. Lady Audley's Secret emerges as a subversive work that addresses the invisible lives and personal conflicts of ordinary women, contributing to the broader discourse on female autonomy in the Victorian era.

Analysis of Character Types and Maslow’s Theory on Emily Bronte’s Wuthering Heights

The elements of Victorian literature found in the novel Wuthering Heights were the greatest effects loved by the characters in the novel Wuthering Heights. The purpose of this study was to describe a reflection of the character types and Maslow’s hierarchy of needs theory in Emily Bronte’s Wuthering Heights Novel. The author uses a qualitative method to clearly describe the results. The theory used in this study was Edgar V. Roberts' character analysis and Maslow's theory of need hierarchy. First, the author identifies the characters and then classifies all the data into the type of hierarchy of needs. The author analyze of the Heathcliff’s, Catherine’s, and Hindley’s on Emily Bronte's Wuthering Heights, how could Abraham Maslow's theory analyze the characters in Heathcliff’s, Catherine’s, and Hindley’s on Emily Bronte's Wuthering Heights. Based on the research, the author’s describe five hierarchy of need in Emily Bronte's Wuthering Heights. They were physiological needs, safety needs, love and attribution needs, respect needs, and self-fulfillment needs. The characters were Heathcliff, Catherine, and Hindley. Heathcliff was arrogant and humble in the lasting fame and popularity of the novel. Catherine's Earnshaw is bohemian, beautiful, spoiled and often arrogant. Hindley relinquished control of family and arrogant.

“[T]he Perfect Love Which Cherishes Me”: Lewes, Casaubon, and the Making of Middlemarch

Abstract This article traces the compositional history of Middlemarch, George Henry Lewes’s invaluable role on the novel in handling negotiations with the publisher, John Blackwood, and his management of marketing and sales. Even though Lewes’s diary and journal show a paucity of details on Eliot’s work on Middlemarch, still his guiding hand is evident in every phase of the novel. While Lewes did not feel the need to mention Middlemarch unless it was necessary, Eliot’s own letters and diary fill in the silence. The article also explores the writing-double partnership in Victorian literature and the hybridity of possible prototypes to Casaubon. In this seventy-fifth anniversary issue of the George Eliot–George Henry Lewes Studies, it is important to revisit this valuable partnership that led to the writing of Middlemarch, which holds a unique place in Eliot’s fiction because it reflects her renewed commitment to art as moral enterprise.

The Misrepresentation of Father-Daughter Incest in Neo-Victorianism on Screen: Misogynistic and Victim-Blaming Understandings of Gendered Violence in Penny Dreadful (2014-2016)

Incest has traditionally been regarded as the universal taboo, despite its convoluted and changeable nature from period to period –both in the social and legal arenas (Tate 2013). As a result, incest has proven to be a fascinating topic for authors across history, particularly in the case of Victorian and neo-Victorian Gothic fiction. We can find copious examples of incestuous relationships in (neo-)Victorian literature and culture, whose representation aims 1) to question idealised conceptualisations of the nuclear family, 2) to denounce sexual and domestic violence against women and 3) to cater to the audience’s morbid fascination for these forbidden relationships (Llewellyn 2010; Cox 2014). Penny Dreadful is a neo-Victorian TV series that exploits incest to seemingly denounce patriarchal and sexual violence. However, as I show in this article, the (mis)representation of its female protagonists, Lily and Vanessa –as a misandrist woman and a femme fatale, respectively–, might mislead the audience into victim blaming them for their own downfalls, rather than acknowledge their status as survivors of gender-based violence. Therefore, in spite of the series’ apparent feminist drive, Penny Dreadful ends up reproducing patriarchal ideologies that blame and silence the victim and side with the perpetrator.

Towards the Exploration of the Victorian Literature: The Historical Overview

The Victorian Period is a remarkable period in the history of literature as a lot of transformations took place in this era. The Victorian Period spaned from 1837 to 1901 and it is a remarkable era that left an indelible mark on the fabric of society, art, and literature. This paper delves into the rich precepts of the Victorian era, exploring its distinctive characteristics, social dynamics, and artistic expressions. This study commences with an overview of the historical and socio-political context of the Victorian Period, highlighting the reign of Queen Victoria and the significant events that shaped the era. It also examines how these influences set the stage for the unique values, beliefs, and attitudes that permeated the Victorian society. A central focus of this study is the exploration of the Victorian social hierarchy, with its rigid class structure and strict moral codes. This era was also marked by a flourishing artistic and literary scene that produced a wealth of literary masterpieces. In exploring the works of prominent Victorian authors such as Charles Dickens, Jane Austen, and the Brontë sisters, it equally explores the thematic underpinnings of their novels, such as social inequality, love, morality, and the changing dynamics of the Victorian society. Additionally, we will discuss the rise of serialized fiction and the influence of Victorian literature on contemporary storytelling. Lastly, this paper sheds light on the legacy of the Victorian Period, exploring its enduring impact on subsequent generations. It also discusses how Victorian ideals and sensibilities continue to shape modern society, art, and literature, as well as their resonance in contemporary discussions on gender, class, and societal norms.

Images of Arabs and Islam in Burton’s Pilgrimage to Al-Madinah and Meccah

The study aimed to discuss the position of Arabs and Islam in Western culture, concentrating on the British Victorians whose main conception of Arabia concerned the desert and the exotic orient. The increasing political and economic interest of the British government in Arabia led to more focus on Muslim Arabs in the Near East and the Arabian Peninsula, beginning with Napoleon’s conquest of Egypt c. 1799, and escalating as Suez and the Ottoman Empire became more intertwined with the British imperialism. Missions and tours for various reasons went to the Near East and the Arabian Peninsula to discover and bring information for the Western Empires specially, the Royal Geographical Society. On the other hand, the growing body of science concerning the Arab world came under the umbrella of orientalism, including all writers, novelists and travelogues concerned with ‘the orient’. One of the oriental travellers was Burton, whose mission to visit the two Islamic holy places Al-Madinah and Mecca was a classic and romantic one. Burton’s mission was not only to supply his sponsors with geographical and scientific information about Suez, the Arabian Peninsula and the two holy places, but he had other personal motivations that affected his work; Personal Narrative of A Pilgrimage to Al-Madinah and Meccah. Continuously, the study applies investigative, descriptive analysis and critical analysis methods to answer the above questions. The study consists of four sections. Section one presents an introduction in five subsections: problem of the study, hypotheses of the study, significance of the study, methodology of the study and finally, structure of the study. Section two presents Victorians’ views of Muslims in three subsections: Victorian thinking and culture in Britain; Islam in the Victorian literature; and Victorian travelogues. Section three comprises a thematic analysis of Burton's Pilgrimage, concentrating on his liberal and ethnographic interests that motivated his imperialism. At the last section, the study discusses the final results, the study limitations and recommendations for the studies about Burton.

Queer Economic Dissidence and Victorian Literature by Meg Dobbins (review)

Queer Economic Dissidence and Victorian Literature by Meg Dobbins (review)

Communities of Care: The Social Ethics of Victorian Fiction

Book Review| June 12 2023 Communities of Care: The Social Ethics of Victorian Fiction Communities of Care: The Social Ethics of Victorian Fiction. By Talia Schaffer. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 2021. xvii + 274 pp. Zarena Aslami Zarena Aslami Zarena Aslami is associate professor in the Department of English at Michigan State University. She is author of The Dream Life of Citizens: Late Victorian Novels and the Fantasy of the State (2012). Her writing has appeared in Novel: A Forum, Victorian Literature and Culture, and Victorian Studies. Search for other works by this author on: This Site Google Modern Language Quarterly 10574891. https://doi.org/10.1215/00267929-10574891 Cite Icon Cite Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Permissions Search Site Citation Zarena Aslami; Communities of Care: The Social Ethics of Victorian Fiction. Modern Language Quarterly 2023; 10574891. doi: https://doi.org/10.1215/00267929-10574891 Download citation file: Zotero Reference Manager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search Books & JournalsAll JournalsModern Language Quarterly Search Advanced Search The text of this article is only available as a PDF. Copyright © 2023 by University of Washington2023 Article PDF first page preview Close Modal You do not currently have access to this content.

Review: Notework: Victorian Literature and Nonlinear Style, by Simon Reader

Review: <i>Notework: Victorian Literature and Nonlinear Style</i>, by Simon Reader

Embodying the Tactile in Victorian Literature: Touching Bodies/Bodies Touching by Ann Gagné, and: Touch, Sexuality, and Hands in Literature, 1740–1901 by Kimberly Cox (review)

Embodying the Tactile in Victorian Literature: Touching Bodies/Bodies Touching by Ann Gagné, and: Touch, Sexuality, and Hands in Literature, 1740–1901 by Kimberly Cox (review)