The Victorian Era in England was defined by Queen Victoria's long reign from 1837 to 1901 and strict social values. Victoria married Prince Albert and had nine children, influencing European royal families. Victorian society was shaped by social class divisions and strict moral codes, especially concerning sexuality and gender roles. While Victorian values promoted prudishness, the reality of life for different classes, especially the working class and poor, was much harsher.

1. THE VICTORIAN ERA
values and social class system

2. Queen Victoria

3. • 1838: crowned Queen when
eighteen years old
• succeeded William IV
• but until birth of first
daughter in 1840
Ernest August I of Hannover
was king

4. • married prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha
when 20 years old

5. • gave birth to nine children
• arranged the marriages of children and grandchildren
‘the grandmother of Europe’

6. • mourned very long for
husband
→ pro-republic movement
gained popularity
• golden and diamond
jubilees

7. • lived frugal and prudish life
- compensate for her uncle’s
lifestyle
- raised following the
Kensington system
→ “Victorian”
= like Victoria did

8. Victorian values

9. • not talking about sex
• punishing crime severely
• living by strict social rules
→ only for one group of society

10. • beach
- special cubicles to
change and put on
bathing suit
- separate beach for
men and women

11. • very rude to show arms and legs
• Queen Victoria collected male nudes

12. • emotions and sexual feelings:
in the ‘language of flowers’
• explicit erotica in personal
letters and even newspapers

13. • sex before marriage = taboo
- many pregnant brides
- limited physical contact
with fiancé
• prostitution flourished

14. • supposed to keep the whole household running
• unmarried women: socializing in spare time
• worst thing: death of father or husband
→ poor women: factory work, governess or prostitution
→ rich women: no inheritance

15. • supposed to be raised very strictly
• had to work long shifts and do dirty jobs
→ Oliver Twist
• less important persons

16. Social class system

17. • wealthy families at court
• no need to work: inherited
fortune
• best education
• Royal Class

18. • largest class
• benefitted the most from Industrial Revolution
• Upper Middle Class
and Lower Middle Class

19. • Upper Working Class = skilled labour
• Lower Working Class = unskilled labour
• hostile to other classes
• affected the worst by immigration

20. • the “sunken people”
• homeless, unskilled and ill

21. “We are not
amused”