VictorianLiterature维多利亚文学-PPTcatalogVictorianLiterature?1.Histori
calBackground2.Realism3.CharlesDickensHistoricalBackground◆I
twasanextendedperiodof?peace,prosperity,progress,?andesse
ntialsocialreforms?forBritain;however,itwascharacterizedb
y?poverty,injustice,andsocialunrest.◆（Page201）◆Theindustria
lRevolution◆Therisingbourgeoisie◆Thepowerfulproletariat◆The
privilegesofroyalty◆Englandbecametheworld''sworkshopandLon
dontheworld''sbank.ThecenterofWesterncivilizationmovedfr
omParistoLondon.Victorianeraliterature◆Asisquiteevidentf
romthetitlethekindofliteraturethatevolvedduringthereig
nofQueenVictoriaisfamouslyknownastheVictorianeralitera
ture.◆TheliteratureoftheVictorianage(1832/1837-1901)?entere
danewperiodaftertheromanticrevival.Theliteratureofthis
erawasprecededbyromanticismandwasfollowedbymodernismor
realism.◆Hence,itcanalsobecalledafusionofromanticandr
ealiststyleofwriting.Victorianageisdividedintothreestage
s:◆TheEarly-Victoriannovel.Theprimarywriterwas?CharlesDick
ens.Themes:socialandhumanitarian;◆TheMid-Victoriannovel.Le
adingwriters:?Brontesisters?andRobertStevenson.?Themes:Roman
ticandGothictraditionsandpsychologicalvein;◆TheLate-Victo
riannovel.Prominentwriters:?ThomasHardyandOscarWildeThemes
:asenseofdissatisfactionwithvaluesoftheage.?Whatarethe
themesofVictorianpoetry?◆ThepoetryoftheVictorianeraincl
udesthethemesofsocialinjustice,ofromanticlove,andofthe
lossofinnocence.◆ElizabethBarrettBrowning?writesabout?socia
linjusticeandaboutromanticlove,and?AlfredLordTennyson?wri
tesabout?thelossofinnocence.VictorianPoetryCharacteristics◆
PoetrywasoneofthemostpopulargenresoftheVictorianperiod
.TheRomanticpoets,particularlyWilliamWordsworth(wholived
throughthebeginningoftheperiod,dyingin1850)wererevered
andwidelyquoted.?Lyrics◆VictorianPoetrywasalsodifferentfro
mthealreadystatedstyle.Muchoftheworkofthetimeisseen
asabridge?betweentheromanticeraandthemodernistpoetry?of
thenextcentury.◆Thereclaimingofthepast?wasamajorpartof
Victorianliteratureandwastobefoundinboth?classicalliterat
ure?andalso?themedievalliterature?ofEngland.TheVictoriansl
oved?theheroic,chivalrousstoriesofknights?ofoldandtheyho
pedtoregainsomeofthatnoble,courtlybehaviourandimpressit
uponthepeoplebothathomeandinthewiderempire.VictorianN
ovelRealismasaliterarytechnique◆Realismcanbesimplybeunde
rstoodasthetendencyamongwritersandpoets?todescribethings
realistically,thatis,?withoutanyexaggerationsordistortions
.◆Inliterature,writersuserealismasa?literarytechnique?tod
escribestoryelements,suchassetting,characters,themes,etc.
,withoutusing?elaborateimagery,orfigurativelanguage,sucha
ssimilesandmetaphors.◆Example:Iwanderedlonelyasacloud/O
myLuveisared,redrose.HistoryofRealisticVictorianNovels
◆Thisformofliteratureusedjournalistictechniquesinorderto
maketheliteraturesomethingclosertoreallifewithfactsand
generalstereotypesofhumannature.◆Theattentiontodetailwas
madetojustreportthefacts,notcommentingorjudgingonthe
sceneorcharacter.(reviewPrideandPrejudice)◆Thenovelswere
aboutthecommonman,whichalsohappenedtobethestrugglesof
thelowerclass.Exampleofrealisticnovel◆InCharlesDickensG
reatExpectations,thenovelgoesthroughaboynamedPip’slife,
asheunexpectedlycomesintomoneyandisaskedtobecomeagen
tleman.◆ThenovelfollowsPip’sstruggles,andfocusesontelli
ngthewholetruthaboutthecharacter,bothhisgoodandbadact
ionsandthereasonsbehindthem.Hewasmeanttobeaverytangi
ble（真实的）person,onethattheaveragepersonofthistimecouldre
lateto.◆Pipwaswrittentobevery“real”,withallhisflaws
andpositiveattributes.RealismandNaturalism◆RealismandNatura
lismaretwodistinctartmovementswhichbeganinthenineteenth
century.Theyhavecertainpointsofdifference.◆Realismisamo
vementthatcentresonthetendencytodepicttherealityofthe
world,ormorecommonlysaidtoshow"thingsastheyare".◆Natura
lismisthephilosophythatbelievesthatnatureistheonlyreal
ityandthenaturalorderistheonlytrueorderoftheworld.Un
likeRomanticismwhichemphasizedonthesupernatural,Naturalism
stressedonthenaturallaws.RealismandRomanticism◆AReaction
AgainstRomanticism◆Romanticismhademphasisedthefacultiesofi
maginationandtheneedtorepresentthingswithacolouringofi
magination.ThesupernaturalhadbeenafavouriteamongRomantics
likeColeridge,ByronandMaryShelley.◆Realistssoughttochall
engethis.Theysawsuchidealismasdevoidoftruth.Theywanted
topresentliteratureasamirrorimageoftheworld,oratleas
treplicatetherealworldascloselyaspossible.◆Thus,themov
ementofRealismbeganwithwriterstryingtopresentfactualtru
thsandobjectiverealities.Variants◆Realism,whichaimstoportr
ayrealisticeventshappeningtorealisticpeopleinarealistic
way,wasthedominantnarrativemodeoftheVictoriannovel-but
ithadmanyvariants.Satiricalrealism◆WilliamMakepeaceThackera
y''sVanityFair(1847-48]bestexemplifiessatiricalrealism,a
modethatemphasizestheworstqualitiesofeachcharacterandsu
ggeststhattheworld,or“VanityFair,"isadarkandunfairpla
ce.◆ThenovelfollowstheadventuresofBeckySharpe,ascheming
andamoralheroinewhomanipulatesallthosearoundher(anddoe
sverywellforherself),incontrasttoAmeliaSedley,atrustin
gandvirtuousyoungwomanwhostrugglestofindhappiness.Psycho
logicalrealism◆Psychologicalrealismemphasizesportrayingther
ichinnerlifeofcharacters-theirthoughts,feelings,motivati
ons,anxieties,etc.◆InGeorgeEliot''sMiddlemarch(1871-72)for
instance,sheportraystheprogressofseveralmarriagesinasma
llprovincialtown.DorotheaBrooke,theheroine,isanidealist
whomarriesanelderlyscholar,Casaubon,inthehopesofhelping
himwithhiswork.Butshebecomesdisillusionedandfindshersel
fattractedtohisnephewWillLadislaw.Socialrealism◆Socialrea
lismfocusesonthefoibles(小缺点)，eccentricities(怪癖),andremarka
blecharacteristicsofpeople,whoarefrequentlycaricatured(滑稽
、夸张的喜剧描写).Oftencomic(andsometimestragicomic),itisbestexe
mplifiedbytheworkofCharlesDickens.InnovelslikeOliverTw
ist(1837-39)inwhichDickensusestheplight(困境)oftheorphan
Olivertocritiqueaheartlessorphanageoverseenbyeccentricb
umblers,Dickensbothcriticizedthesocialsystemandcreateda
vibrantworldofmemorablecharacters.◆Criticizesocialinstituti
ons(example:workhouse)◆InhismasterpieceBleakHouse(1852-53)
Dickenstakesaimatthebureaucraticexcessesofthecourtsyste
masseeninthenever-endingcourtcaseJarndyceV.Jarndyce.(Bl
eakHouse)Industrialnovels◆TherapidtransformationofBritaini
ntoanindustrialsocietypromptedsomewriterstowritenovelsw
hichexposedthedifficultplightoftheworkingclass.◆InDicken
s''HardTimes(1854),themillworkerhero,StephenBlackpool,fac
esostracismafterhisrefusaltojointhemillworkers’union.◆El
izabethGaskell''sNorthandSouth(1855)usestheviewpointofMa
rgaretHale,anemigrantfromsouthernEnglandtoanorthernindu
strialcity,toaddresstheplightofmillworkers.Review：Realisti
cGenre◆Realismemergedinliteratureinthesecondhalfofthen
ineteenthcentury,mostpredominantlyinnovels.◆Realismwascha
racterizedbyitsattentiontodetail,aswellasitsattemptto
recreaterealityasitwas.Asaresult,plotwasnolongerthec
entraltothefocusoftheauthor,butrathercreatinginterestin
gandcomplexcharacterstookprecedence.◆Realismalsoplacedan
emphasisondescribingthematerialandphysicaldetailsoflife
,asopposedtothenaturalworldascharacterizedbytheRomanti
cperiod.CharlesDickensNovelshttps://charles-dickens.org/the-p
ickwick-papers/Thehttps://charles-dickens.org/the-pickwick-paper
s/PickwickPapers?1837https://charles-dickens.org/oliver-twist/Ol
iverTwist?1838https://charles-dickens.org/the-life-and-adventure
s-of-nicholas-nickleby/TheLifeandAdventuresofNicholashttps:
//charles-dickens.org/the-life-and-adventures-of-nicholas-nickleb
y/Nickleby?1839https://charles-dickens.org/the-old-curiosity-shop
/TheOldCuriosityShop?1841https://charles-dickens.org/barnaby-r
udge-a-tale-of-the-riots-of-eighty/Barnabyhttps://charles-dicken
s.org/barnaby-rudge-a-tale-of-the-riots-of-eighty/Rudgehttps://ch
arles-dickens.org/barnaby-rudge-a-tale-of-the-riots-of-eighty/A
TaleoftheRiotsof''Eighty?1841https://charles-dickens.org/life
-and-adventures-of-martin-chuzzlewit/LifeandAdventuresofMarti
nhttps://charles-dickens.org/life-and-adventures-of-martin-chuzz
lewit/Chuzzlewit?1844https://charles-dickens.org/dombey-and-son/D
ombeyhttps://charles-dickens.org/dombey-and-son/andSon?1848http
s://charles-dickens.org/david-copperfield/DavidCopperfield?1850h
ttps://charles-dickens.org/bleak-house/BleakHouse?1853https://ch
arles-dickens.org/hard-times/HardTimes?1854https://charles-dicke
ns.org/little-dorrit/Littlehttps://charles-dickens.org/little-do
rrit/Dorrit?1857https://charles-dickens.org/a-tale-of-two-cities/
ATaleofTwoCities?1859https://charles-dickens.org/great-expect
ations/GreatExpectations?1861https://charles-dickens.org/our-mut
ual-friend/OurMutualFriend?1865https://charles-dickens.org/the-
mystery-of-edwin-drood/TheMysteryofEdwinhttps://charles-dicke
ns.org/the-mystery-of-edwin-drood/Drood?unfinished;1870WrittenM
emoryOneofthemostfamousrealisticwriters,CharlesDickens,d
irectedhisattentionmoretowardsrevelationtheoriesthanther
epresentational.Onthetopicofrealitybeingunderstoodaswhat
isimmediatelyavailabletoone’ssenses,Dickensfurtherhighli
ghtedtheimportanceofmemory,whichhedescribedasakindofv
ision,orwayofseeingtheworld.Moreover,inhisnarrative-sty
lenovelGreatExpectations,memoryisakeyconceptinthestory
,asPiprecallsalloftheeventsfrommemory.Somereaderscompl
ainaboutthefactthatthenoveldoesnotofferanyone’sperspec
tiveotherthanPip’s,butitishighlylikelythatDickenschose
todothisonpurpose.Heviewedmemoryandrevelationtheories
asveryimportanttorealisticliterature,andanarrativecould
bedescribedasakindof“writtenmemory.”(differentfromJane
Austen:comments;memory)LimitationTowritethenovelfromsucha
perspectivebegsanimportantandhighlyrelevantquestionfrom
thereaders:HowdoweknowthatPip’sdescriptionsandthoughts
areaccuraterepresentationsofreality?Thehonestansweristha
twesimplydonot,andthiskindofambiguityleadstoveryinte
restingdiscussionsaboutVictorianRealism.Howtodepictthecom
pletetruthinliteraryworks?reviewCharacteristicsofVictorian
LiteratureItislargelycharacterizedbythestruggleofworking
peopleandthetriumphofrightoverwrong.Thenovelreplacedthe
poemasthemostfashionablevehicleforthetransmissionoflit
erature.Thenovelasagenrerosetoentertaintherisingmiddle
classandtodepictthecontemporarylifeinachangingsociety.
Thenovelshaveastressonrealismandanattempttodescribeth
edailystrugglesofordinarymenthatthemiddleclassreaderco
uldassociatewith.GothicElementsinJaneEyre《简·爱》中的哥特元素Gothic
isaliterarygenrethatisconnectedtothedarkandhorrific.
ItbecamepopularinthelateVictorianEra,followingthesucces
sofHoraceWalpole''sTheCastleofOtranto,in1764.Sincethat
time,gothicliteraturehasbecomeawidespreadinfluence.Somee
lementsthataretypicallygothicincludeancientprophecies,mys
teryandsuspense.CharlotteBronte,theauthorofJaneEyre,vis
ions,violence,andagloomyanddesolatesetting.CharlotteBron
te,theauthorofJaneEyre,wasgreatlyinfluencebythegothic
movement.Thisisobvioustoanyonewhohasreadherwork.JaneE
yre,inparticular,fallsintothetraditionofthelateeighteen
thandnineteenthcenturygothicnovels.Gothicelementscanbes
eeninthemysterybehindThornfieldandRochester''spast.There
isalsoaprevalentthemeofthesupernatural,suchastheappear
anceofMr.Reed''sghost,theghoulishandsinisterlaughterofB
erthaMason,andRochester''sdisembodiedvoicecallingouttoJan
e.Furthermore,thereisagreatdealofsuspensethatisgenerat
edbytheviolentbehaviourofBerthaMason.Thegothicelements
ofmystery,violenceandthesupernaturalhavethestrongestpres
enceinJaneEyre.ThemysterybehindThornfieldandRochester''sp
astisastrongthemeinthenovel.WhenJanefirstarrivedatTh
ornfield,alreadyshecouldsensethatsomethingwaspeculiarabo
uttheplace.Shehearsa"distinct,mirthlesslaugh”comingfrom
thethird-floorofthehouse.Mrs.Fairfax,thehousekeeper,inf
ormsJanethataservantnamedGracePoolelivesupthere.Sheis
alsoratherunbalanced.Janefindstheservant''sbehaviourvery
strangeanddisturbing.However,Janeseriouslystartstoquestio
nthestorybehindGracePoolewhentheservantsnuckintoRoches
ter’sroomandsetthebedcurtainsablaze.JanefindsRochester''
sreactiontotheincidenttobepeculiarinitself,sinceafter
thefirewasputout,heimmediatelywentupstairstothethirdf
loor.However,whatJanefindsmostdisturbingisthatGracecont
inuestoworkatThornfieldevenaftershesupposedlytriedtoki
llRochester.Shewonderswhatpowerthisstrangewomanhasover
Rochester,andfurthermore,whyshehadtriedtokillhiminthe
firstplace.JaneisconvincedthatRochestermaynotbetellingh
erthewholetruthregardingGracePoole.Herbeliefsareconfirm
edwhensheseesthebleedingMason,oneoftheguestsatthehou
se.JanenowrealizesthatGraceisadangerousperson,althoughs
hestilldoesnotknowhowMasonandRochesterarerelatedtoher
.ThenightthatthestrangewomancomesintoJane''sroomfurther
arouseshersuspicionofRochester.Whenshetellshimaboutthe
incident,Rochestertriestoconvinceherthatitmusthavebeen
adream.However,Janeiscertainthatitwasnot.Themysteryo
fThornfieldisrevealedwhenMasondeclaresthatthestrangewom
anisRochester''swife,BerthaMason.Rochesterhadkeptherupo
nthethirdfloorandpaidGracePooletolookafterher.Shewas
theonewhostartedthefireandtoreJane''sweddingveil.Mason
isconnectedtothismysterybecauseheisBertha''ssolerelativ
e.ThemysteryofThornfieldHallandRochester''sdarkpastisak
intothegothictraditionthatdrawoutfearandexcitementint
hereader.Thethemeofthesupernaturalisconsistentthroughout
thenovel.Janehadherfirstsupernaturalencounterwhenshewas
justtenyearsold.Aspunishmentforstrikinghercousin,John
Reed,herauntlockedherupinaspareroominthehouse.Itwas
calledthe''red-room''becauseofthecolouronthewallsandthe
mahoganyfurniture.Whatissignificantaboutthered-roomisth
efactthatJane''sunclehaddiedinit.Whileshewasimprisoned
,Janehearsstrangenoises,andthetensioninthissceneincrea
sesashermindbecomesmorefranticandsuperstitious.A"singul
arnotiondawnedupon[her]",andshewasconvincedthattheroom
washauntedbyherlateuncle.Indeed,shesays,"...Ithought
Mr.Reed''sspirit,harassedbythewrongsofhissister''schild,
mightquititsabode...andrisebeforemeinthischamber.”"(10)
Thisprovidesthescenewithitsgothicelements.Asound“"like
therushingofwings"fillsherears,andshefaints.Thescenew
ithinthered-roomisalsoloadedwithgothicimagery.Theroomi
tselfisdescribedasa''vault,whichgivesitprison-likequalit
ies.The"silent"atmosphere,the"chillair”,andthegathering
of“quietdust”allcontributetothegothicsetting.Likeoldca
stlesandcrumblingruins,thered-roomhasadarkandominousfe
eling.Thecolouronthewallsisreminiscentofblood.Bronte''s
descriptionoftherainandwindspaintavividpictureofthevi
olentstormragingoutside.Alloftheseelements-adarkandfo
rebodingroomwhereafamilymemberdied,thecolourred,ghosts,
andtheviolentstorm-areessentiallygothic.Anotherinstance
ofthesupernaturaloccursneartheendofthenovel,whenJaneh
earsRochester''svoicecallingherfromafar:"Imighthavesaid,
"Whereisit?”foritdidnotseemintheroom,norinthehouse,
norinthegarden;itdidnotcomeoutoftheair,norfromunder
theearth,norfromoverhead.Ihadheardit-where,orwhencef
oreverimpossibletoknow!Anditwasthevoiceofahumanbeing
-aknown,loved,wellrememberedvoice-thatofEdwardFairfax
Rochester;anditspokeinpainandwoe,wildly,eerily,urgentl
y.”(401)Lateron,RochestertellsJanethatafewnightsbefore
herarrival,hecalledouthernameandthoughtthatheheardher
answer.Janedidnotwishtoupsethiminhisfragilestate,so
shedoesnottellRochesteraboutthevoicethatbroughthertoF
erndeaninthefirstplace.However,itstillimpliesthatJane
andRochesterhavesomesortofconnectionthattranscendsphysic
alboundaries.Themanifestationofvoicesisatraditionalgothi
ctheme.Theghoulishlaughtercomingfromthethirdfloorisdesc
ribedasnothinglessthansupernatural.AccordingtoJane,"the
laughwasastragic,aspreternaturalalaughasanyleverheard
."(99)Inthenovel,BerthaMasonisalsoportrayedassomesort
ofsupernaturalbeing.WhenJaneseesBerthainherroom,sheth
oughtthatitwas"thefoulGermanspectre-thevampire".Sheis
oftendescribedaslessthanhuman.WhenRochesterunlockedthe
doortoBertha''sroom,Janesawthatshe“grovelled,seeminglyon
allfours;itsnatchedandgrowledlikesomestrangewildanimal
.”"(278)Bronteusesviolencetogeneratesuspense,whichisanoth
ercharacteristicofagothicnovel.Thefirstinstanceofviolen
ceoccurswhenBerthacameintoRochester''sroomandsetthebedc
urtainsonfire.Theviolentanddestructivesideoffireisapr
evalentthemeinJaneEyre.Anotherviolentsceneoccursinthef
irethatconsumedThornfieldManor.Afterhemadesurethatallt
heservantswereoutofthehousesafely,Rochesterwentbackins
idetosavehisderangedwife.Butsomehow,Berthafoundherway
totheroofandshethrewherselfdownintothefire.Themostno
toriousinstanceofviolenceinthenoveloccursonthethirdflo
orofThornfieldManor.MasonhadcomeintoBertha''sroomandshe
hadsavagelyattackedhim.WhenJanesawMason,hisarmwasblee
ding.Rochesterhadaskedhertotendtohiswoundswhilehewent
tofetchthesurgeon.Berthaviolentandwildbehaviourgenerate
ssuspense,aswellaspropelstheplotforward.Thegothicelemen
tsofmystery,violenceandthesupernaturalareclearlypresent
inCharlotteBronte’snovel,JaneEyre.BerthaMasonisoneofth
ekeyfiguresthatfacilitatethegothicelementsintheplot.He
rviolentbehaviourcreatessuspenseandaddstothemysteryofT
hornfield.Rochester''spastisamysteryaswell.However,there
aderdiscoversintheendthatmysteryofhispast,andthemyste
ryatThornfieldisinterconnectedthroughBerthaMason.Another
importantaspectofagothicnovelisthesupernatural.Janeenco
untersthesupernaturalthroughMr.Reed’sghost,aswellasthe
disembodiedvoiceofRochester.Bothinstancesprovethattherei
saforceinnaturethattranscendsphysicalboundaries.Berthac
analsobeassociatedwiththesupernaturalthoughhereerielaug
hter.Bronteisabletointegrategothicelementswithotherlite
rarygenres.Infact,JaneEyreisactuallyamixtureofthreege
nres:Gothic,Romance,andBildungsroman.Theskillfulintegratio
nofthesegenresistheveryreasonwhyJaneEyreisatimeless
classic.VictorianLiteraturePopularFemaleNovelistsCharlotteBr
onteandGeorgeEliotManywomenoftheVictorianErapublishedth
eirworkanonymouslyorunderpseudonymstoensurethattheirwor
kswouldbegiventhesamemeritthatworksbymaleauthorswere
granted.Usinggenderambiguouspseudonyms,whichalloftheBron
tesistersdid.allowedfemalenoveliststhefreedomtocreatech
aractersexactlythewaytheywantedwithoutfearofbeingdisres
pectedornottakenseriouslybecausetheywerecreatedbywomen.
Reasonsbehindthepopularityoffemalenovelists:Oppressionsuff
eredbymiddle-classwomenIdeaof"NewWomen"Oppressionsuffered
bymiddle-classwomenUnmarried,middle-classwomeneitherhadto
turntoprostitutionorbeagovernessinordertoearnaliving.
However,agovernesshasnosecurityofemployment,receivedmin
imalwages,andwasisolatedinthehouseholdwiththelabelofb
eingsomewherein-betweenafamilymemberandaservantThelarge
amountofmiddle-classwomenwhohadtoresortthemselvestothe
ambiguousroleofgovernessleadtoariseinpopularityofthe
governessnovelbecauseitexploredawoman''sroleinsociety.Ide
aof"NewWomen.asignificantculturaliconduringtheVictorian
EraTheNewWomanwastheoppositeofthestereotypicalVictorian
Womanwhowasuneducated,reliantentirelyonaman,andledane
ntirelydomesticlife.Instead,theNewWomanwasintelligent,ind
ependent,educated,andself-supporting.Theystrivetoredefinea
woman''sroleinmarriageandothersocietalnorms,aswellasfi
xtherelationshipsbetweenthesexesandsupportwomen''sprofess
ionalaspirations.RiseofFeminismandImportantFemaleNovelists
VotingandpropertyrightsEducationopportunitiesEmploymentres
trictionsManywomendecidedtoaddresstheissuesinwritingand
publishingtheirworkinordertomaketheirvoicesheardanddem
andequality.TheBronteSistersThefamousBrontesistersliveda
tHaworthParsonagefrom1820to1861intheWestRidingofYorksh
ire.Charlotte,EmilyandAnneBronteweretheauthorsofmanyfa
mousandlovedbooksintheEnglishlanguage.Theirformerhomeis
nowamuseumcontainingmanyoftheitemsusedbythefamily.Cha
rlotteBronteCharlotteBronteworkedasateacherandgovernessb
eforecollaboratingonabookofpoetrywithhertwosisters,Emi
lyandAnne,whowerewritersaswell.In1847,Brontepublishedt
hesemiautobiographicalnovelJaneEyre,whichwasahitandwoul
dbecomealiteraryclassic.HerothernovelsincludedShirleyan
dVillette.ShediedonMarch31,1855,inHaworth,Yorkshire,Engl
and.CharlotteBronteInhernovels,Brontecreatedstrongfemaleh
eroineswhopossessedfreethought,intellect,andstrongmoralc
haracter.Shewroteforthewomenshesawasbeingoppressedbyso
ciety,whichincludedteachers,governesses,andspinsters.Shefe
ltthatallofthesewomenwereimprisonedbysocietyorcircumst
ancesbeyondtheircontrol,andBrontewasimpelledtospeakout
fortheminherwriting.JaneEyreThemostpopularexampleofago
vernessnovelwouldbeCharlotteBronte''snovelJaneEyre.afict
ionalautobiographyoftheorphanJaneEyreasshematuresandbe
comesagovernessatThornfieldmanor.Janeisrebellious,resour
ceful,andbravewoman,despitealltheobstaclesthatstandinh
erwayinamale-dominatedsocietyJaneultimatelyfallsinlovew
ithRochester,butbreaksawayfromsocietybecauseshemarriesh
imoutofloveandnotforthelabelsorsecurityofamanandmo
neythatitprovides.JanerespectsRochesteranddoesn''tcompromi
sehermoralsorherpersonalityjusttosatisfyhim,whichBront
ebelievedtobeveryimportant.EmilyBronteEmilyJaneBronteliv
edaquietlifeinYorkshirewithherclergymanfather;brother,
BranwellBronte;andtwosisters,CharlotteandAnne.Thesisters
enjoyedwritingpoetryandnovels,whichtheypublishedunderpse
udonyms.As"EllisBell,"EmilywroteWutheringHeights(1847)—her
onlypublishednovel—whichgarneredwidecriticalandcommercial
acclaim.WutheringHeightsPublishingasEllisBell,Brontepubli
shedherdefiningwork,WutheringHeights,inDecember1847.Thec
omplexnovelexplorestwofamiliestheEarnshawsandtheLintons—
—acrosstwogenerationsandtheirstatelyhomes,WutheringHeight
sandThrushcrossGrange.Heathcliff,anorphantakeninbytheEa
rnshaws,isthedrivingforcebetweentheactioninthebook.He
firstmotivatedbyhisloveforhisCatherineEarnshaw,thenbyh
isdesireforrevengeagainstherforwhathebelievedtobereje
ction.DeathandLegacyAtfirst,reviewersdidnotknowwhattoma
keofWutheringHeights.ItwasonlyafterBronte''sdeaththatth
ebookdevelopeditsreputationasaliterarymasterwork.Shedied
oftuberculosisonDecember19,1848,nearlytwomonthsafterher
brother,Branwell,succumbedtothesamedisease.HersisterAnn
ealsofellillanddiedoftuberculosisthefollowingMay.Gothic
LiteratureThetermGothicoriginateswiththearchitecturecreat
edbytheGermanicGothtribesthatwaslaterexpandedtoinclude
mostmedievalarchitecture.Thegenreof"GothicLiterature"emer
gedasthedarkestformofDarkRomanticisminitsextremeexpres
sionsofelaboratetalesofmystery,suspense,andsuperstition.T
heheightoftheGothicperiod,whichwascloselyalignedwithRo
manticism,isusuallyconsideredtohavebeentheyears1764toa
bout1840,however,itsinfluenceextendsto20th-centuryauthors
.GothicLiteratureKeyElementsMostGothicliteraturecontainscer
tainkeyelementsthatinclude:Atmosphere:TheatmosphereinaGo
thicnovelisonecharacterizedbymystery,suspense,andfear,w
hichisusuallyheightenedbyelementsoftheunknownorunexplai
ned.Setting:AsGothicarchitectureplaysanimportantrole,many
ofthestoriesaresetinacastleorlargemanor,whichistypi
callyabandonedoratleastrun-down,andfarremovedfromcivili
zation(sonoonecanhearyoushouldyoucallforhelp).agloom
yanddesolatesetting.Othersettingsmayincludecavesorwilder
nesslocales,suchasamoororheath.Someelementsthataretypi
callygothicgenreelementsincludeancientprophecies,mysterya
ndsuspense,supernaturalevents,dreamsandvisions,violence.Go
thicElementsinJaneEyreandWutheringHeightsThemysterybehin
dThornfieldandRochester''spastisastrongthemeinthenovel.
WhenJanefirstarrivedatThornfield,alreadyshecouldsenseth
atsomethingwaspeculiarabouttheplace.Shehearsa''"distinct
,mirthlesslaugh"comingfromthethird-floorofthehouse.Mrs.
Fairfax,thehousekeeper,informsJanethataservantnamedGrace
Poolelivesupthere.Sheisalsoratherunbalanced.Janefinds
theservant''sbehaviourverystrangeanddisturbing.However,Jan
eseriouslystartstoquestionthestorybehindGracePoolewhen
theservantsnuckintoRochester’sroomandsetthebedcurtains
ablaze.GothicfigureTheGothicfigurethatinhabitsthehallsof
ThornfieldisofcourseBerthaMason.Thewomanisscary.Wefirs
tgetaglimpseofherwhenshetearsJane''sweddingveil,thenig
htbeforeJaneissettomarryRochester.Sheappearsasaghostl
ikefigurethatprophesisesthefailureofthemarriage,andofc
ourse,itdoesnotgoahead.NaturalismNaturalismisaliteraryge
nrethatstartedasamovementinlatenineteenthcenturyinlite
rature,film,theater,andart.Itisatypeofextremerealism.Na
turalismisalate19th-centuryliterarymovementinwhichwriter
sfocusedonexploringthefundamentalcausesfortheircharacter
s’actions,choices,andbeliefs.Thismovementsuggestedtherole
soffamily,socialconditions,andenvironmentinshapinghuman
character.Thus,naturalisticwriterswritestoriesbasedonthe
ideathatenvironmentdeterminesandgovernshumancharacter.Wea
lsoseeuseofsomeofthescientificprinciplesinnaturalistic
works,andhumansstrugglingforsurvivalinhostileandalienso
ciety.Infact,naturalismtookitscuefromDarwin''stheoryofe
volution,whichholdsthatlifeislikeastruggleandonlythef
ittestsurvive.ThomasHardyHardybeganhiswritingcareerasano
velist,publishingDesperateRemediesin1871,andwassoonsucce
ssfulenoughtoleavethefieldofarchitectureforwriting.His
novelsTessoftheD''Urbervilles.andJudetheObscure,whichar
econsideredliteraryclassicstoday,receivednegativereviewsu
ponpublication.Heleftfictionwritingforpoetryandpublished
eightcollections,includingPoemsofthePastandthePresent(H
arper&Bros.,1902)andSatiresofCircumstance(Macmillan,1914).
英国文学史书本原文Chapter6EnglishLiteratureoftheMidand-latenineteen
thCenturyTheMidand-late19hcenturyisgenerallyknownasthe
VictorianagedominatedbytheruleofQueenVictoria.Thisisa
periodofdramaticchangethatbroughtEnglandtoitshighestpoi
ntofdevelopmentasaworldpower.TheIndustrialRevolutionshi
ftedthebasisoflifefromlandownershiptoanurbaneconomyof
manufacturing.Therisingbourgeoisieweregainingpoliticalimp
ortanceaswellaswealth.Thepowerfulproletariatwerepolitica
llydeprivedandhadtofighthardfortheirrights.Theprivileg
esofroyaltyandnobilitywereeithercurbedorabolished.Gradu
allyordinarymenwerebecomingtheinfluentialrulersofthecou
ntrybytheirrepresentativesintheHouseofCommons.Expansion
ofnationaleconomyandcolonialterritorytransferredEnglandin
toaworldempireofimmensestrength.Englandbecametheworld''s
workshopandLondontheworld''sbank.ThecentreofWesterncivi
lizationmovedfromParistoLondonLiteracyincreasedsignificant
lyintheperiodasthemassesbegantobeeducatedandbeganto
thinkforthemselves.Publisherscouldbringoutmorematerialmo
recheaplythaneverbeforeinanswertotheirgrowingdemandfor
readingmatter.Seriouswritersfelttheinspirationofsuchan
unprecedentedlylargeandwideaudience.Thestagewasnowready
fortheadventoftheGoldenAgeoftheEnglishnovel,amongothe
rformsofliterature,bothasafaithfulmirroroftheVictorian
societyandapowerfulweaponofitscriticism.TheVictorianage
isusuallysubdividedintotheearlyVictorianperiod,themid-
Victorianperiod,andthelateVictorianperiod.TheEarlyPeriod
(1832-1848):StrugglesforDemocracyTheearlyyearsoftheVictor
ianagewasatimeofserioussocialproblemsaswellrapidecono
micdevelopment.TheReformBillof1832extendedtherighttovo
tetoallmalesowningproperty.Thepowerofthenationwasthus
placedinthehandsofthewealthyindustrialistswhosoonrecon
ciledwiththearistocracyandredoubledtheirexploitationofth
eworkingpeople.Workersandtheirfamilieslivedinextremelyw
retchedslums.Womenandchildrenworkedlonghoursunderbrutal
conditionsinminesandfactories.Workhousesystem,themainest
ablishmentofpoorrelief,failedtocombatthewidespreadpovert
y.Provokedbyaseveredepressionwithmassiveunemploymentinth
eearly1840''s,violentriotingbrokeout.Theconflictbetweenl
abourandcapitaldominatedtheEnglishpoliticalscene.Thisconf
lictresultedintheChartistMovement,achainofworkingclass
politicaleventsbetween1838and1848.Inthismovement,workers
madethreepetitionsdemandingtherighttovote.Allthepetitio
nswererejected,butmostofthedemands,statedfirstintheirS
ixPointsandtheninthePeople''sCharter,weretobecomelawbet
ween1860and1914.IntheearlyVictorianperiod,socialissues,
especiallythoseassociatedwithindustrializationandurbanizat
ionwerereflectedanddealtwithinliteratureindifferentways
.CharlesDickenswasthegreatestoftheentireVictorianage.He
publishedhisepoch-makingearlynovelsinthe1830sandcontinu
edtowriteintothe1870’s.TheearlyVictorianagewitnessedth
epublicationofhisearlyworks,around10novelsintotal.Soci
alevilssuchasworkhouse,debtor''sprison,legalfraud,toname
justafew,areallattackedunderhisartisticandhumorouspen
.TheworkhousesituationisbesthighlightedinhisOliverTwist
(1837-1838).TheBronteSistersemergedin1847aswomennovelist
withJaneEyreandWutheringHeights.JaneEyrecapturestheemo
tionalneedsofhumanbeingsinatimeofspeededindustrializati
on.WilliamMakepeaceThackeraywasanotherimportantauthor,who
isbestknownforhisVanityFair(1847-1848)WhileDickenslash
edtheinhumansocialinstitutionsandcorruptedgovernmentdirec
tly,Thackeraylevelledhiscriticismatthesocialmoralthatma
deupthemoney-mindedsociety.Writingandpublishinginthisper
iodaspoetswereAlfredTennyson(1809-1892),RobertBrowning,E
lizabethBarrettBrowning(1806-1861),andMatthewArnold(1822-1
888).Tennysonpublishedhisfirstsolocollectionofpoems,Poem
s,ChieflyLyrical,in1830.Adecadelater,in1842,hepublishe
dtwovolumesofPoems.Inthesameyear,RobertBrowningpublish
edhisfamous"MyLastDuchess",apoemmakingfulluseordramat
icmonologuetolaybarethesnobbishness,selfishnessandthebe
astlikecrueltyofthearistocracy.ElizabethBarrettBrowning''s
“TheCryoftheChildren”(1843)isbasedonfactsconcerningchi
ldrenoffiveyearsofagewhodragheavytubsofcoalthroughlo
w-ceilingminetunnelsfor16hoursaday.TheMid-VictorianPerio
d(1848-1870):StabilityandProsperityThesecondphaseoftheVi
ctorianagewasatimeofsocialstabilityandeconomicsuccess.
AlthougharmedrevolutionssweptoverEuropeafter1848,England
wasnotaffectedmuch.Infullplaywerelarge-scaleexpansionsi
nindustry,commerceandcolonialexploitation.In1851,theGrea
tExhibitionwasheldinHydeParktodisplaytothewholeworld
theexhibitsofmodernindustryandscience.Thiseventsymbolize
dthetriumphofVictorianindustry.Overhalfofthepopulation
livedinindustrialcities.Workingconditionswereimprovedunde
rregulatorylegislation.Therighttovotewasextendedtoallm
alesoftheworkingclassintowns.Confidenceinsatisfactorypr
ogresswasrunninghigh.Expansionoccurredalsoinhumanknowledg
eabouttheworldandabouthimselfwithscientificprogress.Geo
logyextendedthehistoryoftheearthbackbymillionsofyears.
Astronomyextendedtheknowledgeoftheuniversetoaboundless
expanse.Darwin''stheoryofevolutionwentsofarastoidentify
manwiththeanimal."Naturalselection"and“survivalofthefit
test”wereappliedinexplaininghowthesocietyworkedanddevel
oped.Manypeoplebegantolosetheirfaith.Inshort,beneathth
esurfaceofprosperityandstabilityofthisperiod,aprofound
changewasundergoinginman''sideasaboutthesociety,theworld
,theuniverse,andhimself.Literatureofthisperiodreflected,
inonewayoranother,thedilemmabetweentheconfidenceinprog
ressandaweakeningfaith.TennysonwasappointedPoetLaureatei
n1850,symbolizingthepinnacleofhiscareer.Inthesameyear,
heproducedhismasterpiece,InMemoriam,regardedasoneofthe
greatestpoemsofthe19thcentury.Hecontinuedtowritethroug
houttherest.WilliamMakepeaceThackeray(1811-1863)WilliamMa
kepeaceThackeraywasbornonJuly18,1811,inCalcutta,India,t
hesonofanofficialhighintheemploymentoftheEastIndiaCo
mpany.Afterhisfather''sdeathandhismother''sremarriage,youn
gThackeraywenttoLondonforhisschooling.Hegrewupinthes
amefashionasotherupper-middleclassEnglishmenofthetime,a
ttendingfineschoolsandtravellingabroadwidely.HeenteredCa
mbridgein1829andleftitin1830withouttakingadegree.Heha
dafortuneinheritedfromhisfather,butheplayedcardsandlo
stmoney.HeinvestedinanIndianbank,butthebankbroke.Howe
ver,thesedisastersturnedintoagoodthing,sincetheyforced
himtoworkseriouslyandemployhistalents.Hetriedhishanda
tdrawingandpaintingatfirst,andthenturnedtoliteratureaf
terhismarriagetolsabellaShawein1836.Adecadeofbrilliant
writingfollowedintheminorliteraryformsthatbringinready
money.ThemonthlyinstalmentsofVanityFair(1847-1848)brought
Thackeraysubstantialfameandestablishedhisreputation.TheHi
storyofPendennis(1848-1850)ensuredhispopularity.TheHistor
yofHenryEsmondEsq.(1852)wasnotsofavourablyreceived,but
TheNewcomes(1854-1855)provedtobeafurthersuccess.However
,hisfictiondeclinedinpopularitywithTheVirginians(1857-185
9).HediedinLondononDecember24,1863.Formanyyears,Thacke
ray''sliteraryreputationwasovershadowedbythepopularityofh
iscelebratedcontemporaryCharlesDickens.Heisnowrecognized
asamajorauthoroftheVictorianage.ComparedwithDickens,Th
ackeraywaslessinterestedindirectsocialcriticism.Hewasma
inlyconcernedwithshowingpeople’svanityandtheireffortsto
grabrealcharactersthatdisplayvariousfacetsofhumannature.
Hehadaremarkablewayoftellingastoryandcommentingonit
alongtheway.Hisfictionofferedboththemeandmethodtolater
novelists.VanityFairThestorytakesplaceinEnglandduringt
heNapoleonicWars(1799-1815).ThenovelbeginswithAmeliaSedl
eyandRebeccaSharpleavingMissPinkerton''sacademytoliveout
theirlivesinVanityFair.Ameliaisagenteelyoungladyfrom
arichmerchantfamily.RebeccaisanorphanwithanAnglo-French
background.RebeccastayswithAmeliaforawhileandstartsher
climbingadventureswithanattempttomarryJosephSedley,Ameli
a''sbrother.GeorgeOsbornethwartstheplanasheintendstomar
ryAmeliaanddoesnotwantsuchasister-in-law.Rebeccatakesa
positionasgovernessattheCrawleyhouseholdwherethefather
proposestoherbutshehasalreadybeensecretlymarriedtothe
secondson,RawdonCrawley.Rawdon''srichauntdisinheritshim,a
ndRebecca''shopesofbeingmarriedtoawealthhusbandaredashe
d.AmeliaisabouttobemarriedtoGeorgeOsbornewhenherfathe
rgoesbankrupt.Osborne''sfatherforceshimtobreakwithAmelia
.George''sfriendWilliamDobbinisinsecretandhopelessloveo
fAmelia,andoutofgoodwishtoseeAmeliahappy,hearrangest
hemarriagebetweenthem.Thehusbandisthendisinheritedandis
senttowarandkilledintheBattleofWaterloo.Ameliadoesno
thavetostarvethankstoWilliam''ssecrethelp.Josephclaimsv
alouratWaterlooandearnsthenickname"WaterlooSedley".Actua
llyhefledatthesoundofthecannon.CrawleyandRebeccamanage
toliveingrandstyleayearonnothingandthenCrawleyisput
intoprisonfordebt.Whenhereturnshome,hediscoversthatRe
beccaisthemistressofLordSteyne,winningbothmoneyanddiam
onds,CrawleyleavesheranddiesintheWestIndies.Aftermany
vicissitudesandwanderingsRebeccameetsthewidowedAmeliaand
findsherstillindearmemoriesofherdeadhusband.Rebeccadis
closesanoldsecret.SheshowsAmeliaGeorge''sletteraskingher
toelopewithhimontheeveoftheBattleofWaterloo.Ameliaa
greestomarryWilliam.AttheendofthenovelRebeccahasthemo
neynecessarytoliveinVanityFair,andappearstoberespectab
le.Herson,nowSirRawdonCrawley,refusestoseeher.Remarks"V
anityFair"isametaphorforthehumanconditionandtakeitsna
mefromtheseatofcorruptioninBunyan''sallegory,Pilgrim''sPr
ogress.Setagainstthefirsthaltofthe19thcentury,VanityFai
rdescribesthelifeoftheupperclassesofEngland.Thenovela
ttacksthesocialrelationshipofthebourgeoisworldbysatirizi
ngtheindividualsindifferentstrataoftheuppersocietywhere
moneyweighsmost.TheportrayalofcharactersisextremelySucc
essful.BeckySharp,withacombinationofshrewdambition,pluck
,andlivelycharm,hasbecomeoneofthemostmemorablecharacte
rsinEnglishfiction.Thackeray''scriticismofthesocietyissel
domdirectedatthesocialinstitution,andgovernmentwhichcrea
tedgreatgapsbetweenclassesofhistime.Hiscriticismistarg
etedatthesocialmoralthathelpedtoholdupthesociety.Toh
im,thesocietywascorruptbecauseitsmoralwasdiseased,anda
lmostallpeopleweremoney-minded.Hiscriticismembracespeople
ofallclasses,andhencethesubtitleofthework"ANovelWith
outaHero".ChapterIIofthenovelopenswithRebeccaandAmelia
ontheirwaytoAmelia''shomeafterleavingtheirschool.Theyar
egoingtohaveabriefholidaybeforetheyenterthebigworldo
fVanityFair.Thesocialstrataaremadeclear.MissPinkertoni
sthemanagerandowneroftheacademyonChiswickMall.Sheisa
snobwhohonoursonlythosewhohavemoneyandposition.Thecon
tractbetweenRebeccaandAmeliaisestablished.Thackeray''sarto
ftellingthestoryismasterly.Hefeelsfreetotalkaboutthe
personagesandtheaction,justasifhehadthereaderathisel
bow,andtheywerelookingatthefictionalworldtogether.Atth
ecloseofthenovel,heevenpresentshimselfasa"showman."Cha
rlesDickens(1812-1870)CharlesDickensisthegreatestnovelist
oftheVictorianage,whoauthoredabout15novelsaswellasvol
umesofstories,travelbooks,andessays.Heisparticularlyfam
ousforhisvividcomiccharacterizationsandforcefulsocialcri
ticism.Noauthorbeforehimhadwrittenoftheurbanpoorwiths
uchfidelityandsympathy.Hisworksareamongthemostenduring
novelsoftheVictorianageandamongthegreatclassicsinallf
iction.DickenswasborninFebruary,1812,atLandport,Portsmout
h.Hewasthesecondofeightchildren.Hisfatherwasaclerk,h
ardworkingbutimprudent,latercaricaturedasM.MicawberinDav
idCopperfield.In1822,thefamilymovedtoLondon,whereCharle
shadtoleaveschooltohelpsupporthisimpoverishedfamily.In
1824,hisfatherwasputintoprisonfordebt.Attheageof12,
Charleswassenttoworkinafactory.Hewrappedandlabelledbl
ackingbottlesfor6shillingsaweek.Afterwork,hewanderedth
roughthestreetsofLondon,enthralledbythesightofthedocky
ards,thefilesofconvicts,andthevastnastysectionsofthec
ityinhabitedbythepoor.Thesebiterdaysremainedinhismemor
yandlaterfoundexpressioninhisworks.Dickenswasabletoret
urntoschoolafterasmalllegacyhelpedreleasehisfatherfrom
prison.Hewasanavidreaderandspentmuchtimeinthereading
roomoftheBritishMuseumandlearntshort-hand.In1832hebecame
aleadingreporterforTheMorningChronicle,andbegantowrite
briefarticlesonLondonlife.Thesearticleswerecollectedand
publishedasSketchesbyBozin1836.Thisbookshowedhowmost
ofhisnovelswouldappear:firstinserialforminmonthlyorwe
eklyperiodicals,thenpublishedinbookforms.HisfirstmajorTr
iumphcamewiththepublicationofThePickwickPapers(1836-1837
),anexuberantnarrativewithamixtureoffaresatireandsophi
sticatedcomedy.Thisbookisoftenregardedasthetypicalexamp
leofDickens''geniusasahumorist.Hissecondnovel,OliverTwis
tagloomytaleofcrimeandterror,begantoappearin1837.The
nextnovel,NicholasNickleby(1838-1839),isakeensatireonY
orkshireBoardingschools.ItwasfollowedbyTheOldCuriositySh
op(1840-1841),BarnabyRudge(1841),MartinChuzzlewit(1843-184
4),AChristmasCarol(1843),andDombeyandSon(1846-1848).Byt
histime,Dickenswasenjoyingtheluxuriouslifehehaddreamed
ofasachild.In1850,hepublishedthelastinstalmentsofDavid
Copperfield,apartyautobiographicalnovelthatwashisownfavo
urite.Thoughnottherichestanddeepestofhisnovels,itispsychologicallythemostrevealing,bothofDickenshimselfandofthesocietyofhistime.Twoyearslater,thebroodingsatiricalnovelBleakHouse(1852-1853),anotherofhisfinestachievements,begantoappear.Itwasfollowedbythreenovels:HardTimes(1854),LittleDorrit(1855-1857),andATaleofTwoCities(1859).Hisnextnovel,Great,Expectations(1860-1861),rankswithhisbestworks.Dickensspentanddonatedtocharitymorethanhecouldafford.Hewasforcedtowriteatafuriouspacetomaintaintheluxuriouslifestylethathedesired.Toincreasehisincome,hebegantoconductpublicreadingsofhiswork.ThespeakingtourstookhimthroughoutBritain,toParisandtotheUnitedStates.Inthemeantime,hewasworkingonOurMutualFriend(1864-1865),hislastcompletednovel.Heavyloadofworkexhaustedhisenergiesandpermanentlybrokehishealth.OnJune9,1870,hediedattheageof58andwasburiedinthePoet''sCornerofWestminsterAbbey.Hislastnovel,TheMysteryofEdwinDrood,remainsunfinished.OutsideLondon,OlivermeetsJack,aboyofhisownage.JackoffershimshelterintheLondonhouseofhisbenefactor,Fagin.Fagintrainsorphanboystopickpockets.Oliverissentonastealingmissionwithotherboys.Heiscaughtbutnotconvictedoftheft:Mr.Brownlow,thevictimoftheirtheft,takesthefeverishOlivertohishomeandnurseshimbacktohealth.ButOliverissooncapturedandsentbacktoFagin.Inahouse-breakingattempt,Oliverisshotbytheservantandtakeninbythewomenofthehouse,Mrs.MaylieandheradoptednieceRose.Hespendsacarefreesummerwiththeminthecountryside.Atthesametime,itisrevealedthatOliver''smotherleftbehindagoldlocket.AmannamedMonksgotanddestroyedthelocket.FaginandMonksarenowdeterminedtorecaptureOliver.WhentheMayliescometoLondon,NancymeetssecretlywithRoseandtellsheraboutFagin''sdesigns.NancyisoneofFagin''strustyretainers.TheconversationisoverheardandNancyiskilled.TheMayliesrestoreOlivertoMr.Brownlow,whoconfrontsMonksandforcesthetruthoutofhimaboutOliver''sparentage.MonksisOliver''shalfbrother.Theirfather,Mr.Leeford,wasmarriedtoawealthywomanbutthemarriagewasnothappy.HehadanaffairwithAgnesFleming,Oliver''smother.MonkshasbeenpursuingOlivertoensurethathishalf-brotherhasnoshareofthefamilyinheritance.Mr.BrownlowcompelsMonkstosignoverOliver''ssharetoOlive.Besides,itisfoundoutthatRoseisOliver''saunt.FaginishangedforhiscrimesMr.BrownlowadoptsOliver.Ablissfullifebegins.OliverTwistOliverTwitisborninaworkhouse.Hismotherdiesathisbirth.Nooneknowsher.Hespendsthefirstyearsofhislifeinabadlyrunhomefororphansandthenistransferredtoaworkhouseforadultsattheageofnine.Oneday,onbehalfofhisfellowsufferers,heasksformoregruelattheendofamealispunishedforthis.Mr.Bumble,theparishbeadle,offersfivepoundstoanyonewhowilltaketheboyawayfromtheworkhouse.Heisapprenticedtoanundertakerwhouseshimtoactastheattendantatfunerals.ThenherunsawaytoLondon. |
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