Carlos Sánchez Garrido Estudio Selectivo Drama
Explain the defining features of Victorian and Late Victorian (early 20 c.) drama. Relate them with Victorian society, politics, economy and/or culture. TH
Victorian Age is a period, which is not only established during Queen Victoria’s reign, but also during the early 20 TH century, which is well-known as the Late Victorian period. Some historians think that the beginning of this period can be set with the “First Reform Bill” in 1832. The whole period can be divided into three main sub-periods which are “Early Victorian Period” (1830-1848) [Settlement], “Mid-Victorian Period” (1848-1870) [Expansionism], and finally, “The Later Victorian Period” (1870-1901) [The Decay]. The last period is also known as the “Nineties”. During the first one, there is a dramatic time of change, in which we can find two main events. The first one is the “First Reform Bill” (1832), which was an important improvement for the English society. This reform consisted in several improvements such as, ‘Changes in urban district’, ‘Payments for members of Parliament’, and overall, ‘Votes by ballot’ (secret vote). The second one is the “Factory Act” (1847), in which women and children’ work is regulated. The Mid-Victorian Period was a continuation of the previous period, but with the difference that there was a social and economical improvement. The new economical theories of “Laissez-Faire” and the “Free-Trade” will modify the situation of the industry in Great Britain. Furthermore, we have to add that the movement of population from country to the town will originate a new social class, which will be “The working class”. This working class will be organized into powerful trade unions and will get social reforms. Between the first period and the second one, there was an important emigration to the United States caused by the “Great Famine” (1845) that happened in those years, which killed lots of people provoked by the lack of basic goods for feeding the population. In this second period the publication of “The Capital” by Marx and the “Origin of the Species” by Charles Darwin will cause changes in the social frame of the age. Thanks to the electoral reform, it will appear a new party, which will be known as the “Labour Party”. Then, the second part of the political situation of the period was dominated by J. Gladstone (Tory) and B. Disraeli (Whigs). Meanwhile, Gladstone was the responsible for recognizing the trade unions; Disraeli took an important part in the law of compulsory education and in the expansionist policies of England in Canada and India too. This second period is also known as the “Expansionism period”, in which Queen Victoria had an expansionist policy which went from Australia, India, Africa… to other countries. She sent people to other countries and that same people sent back goods as goods and manufactured products, which did that Britain was the power of Europe. Not only in Europe it was so important, but also it was the most important empire in the TH world in the XIX c. This was known as “Civis Britam”, which included from Gibraltar to Australia. Apart from the working class, it will appear during this age a new social class, which will be the rich people, not the royal society. This class will be known as the “Middle Class”. Finally, the last part of the period is characterized by changes in the attitude to certain aspects such as industrialization, colonialism, and lastly the possibility of
Carlos Sánchez Garrido Estudio Selectivo Drama
making scientific development. Furthermore, Britain has a great social and political stability during this last period. Something very important that we cannot forget to mention are the “Victorian Values”. They are so important because it doesn’t matter the literary field (Poetry, Drama, Non-fiction or Fiction), the important is that they always appear in every one of them, because they are a mirror of that age and everything immersed in it, such as the society, culture, economy... These values are the Family, Education, Expansionist policies, Social Responsibility, Morality, and overall, Reality. The introduction of new laws was very important to achieve these values. After setting the frame of all the main aspects of this age, we can start to say that the most important features of the beginning of the Victorian theatre are the use of melodrama, artificial plots, and superficial romantic characters. These kinds of plays were performed to illiterate audiences. The kinds of plays that are usually performed during this age are the “farces” and the “intrigues”. These intrigues had complicated and absurd plots. On the other hand, we find that Ibsen had an important role in the last part of the age. He had a big influence on the drama of this time with his theories. He thought that drama could show the real problems of society. Another important fact inside the Victorian drama is that towards the middle of the XIX century, it appears a new dramatic form of realistic tendency, which showed familiar problems or social contents. This new kind of drama has a new t echnique closer to real life, which allows us to see one of the main values inside the Victorian age, “Reality”. Apart from this, we can see that the rest of the values appear too. These values that appear in Victorian plays are “Morality”, “Family” (which is the focal point of society), and “Social Responsibility”. There is a new approach in drama, which is provoked by the modern and natural, and overall, by a new interest in the ideology. Some of the main playwrights in Victorian drama are: T. W. Robertson, who was the father of “Realistic drama”; Tom Taylor (and his melodramas); James Albery (and his sentimentalism); Sydney Grundy (Combination of melodrama and prettiness); Henry Arthur Jones and Arthur Wing Pinero, who did that Victorian drama was more sophisticated and related to moral problems; W. S. Gilbert (and his comic operas); and finally, Oscar Wilde and George Bernard Shaw, who are the best exponents of the late Victorian drama.
BIBLIOGRAPHY LINKS
http://www.answers.com/topic/arms-and-the-man-play-5 http://www.wwnorton.com/college/english/nael/victorian/review/summary7ed.htm BOOKS •
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Abrams, M. A. (ed.). (2001). The Norton Anthology of English Literature, Volume I . Seventh edition. New York: W.W. Norton and Co. Daiches, D. (1969). A critical History of English Literature (Volume four). Second edition. London: Secker & Warburg.
Carlos Sánchez Garrido Estudio Selectivo Drama •
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Hunt, H., Richards, K. & Russell, T. J. (1978). The Revels History of Drama in English (Volume VI: 1750-1800). London: Routledge. Hunt, H., Richards, K. & Russell, T. J. (1978). The Revels History of Drama in English (Volume VII: Drama since 1800). London: Routledge. Powells, Kerry (ed.). (2004). Victorian and Edwardian Theatre. Cambridge University Press. Pujals, Esteban. (1988). Historia de la Literatura Inglesa. Madrid: Gredos, D. L. EXTRA MATERIAL
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Class notes.
Describe G. B. Shaw’s characteristics, main plays.
drama:
major
themes,
dramatic
G.B. Shaw was born in Dublin in the bosom of a poor family. He had to move to London in his childhood and with only 15 years-old he left the school (half-educated) but was deeply interested in literature since he read a lot. His first published works were novels, for example, “An Unsocial Socialist” (1887). His essays used to appear in the introduction of his plays where he exposed his political and ethical ideas. They were published later in a single volume. Some of his essays about controversial matters are: -
“Common Sense about the War” (1914). “How to Settle the Irish Question” (1917). “The Intelligent Woman’s Guide to Socialism and Capitalism” (1928).
He wrote as well an essay about plays, “Quintessence of Ibsenism”, which is a kind of manifesto showing his position in his plays. Shaw was a writer very much concerned with the contemporary British problems, such as the poor housing, arms, prostitution… Among his best plays are “The Widower’s Houses” (1892). This is a direct attack on poor housing. Another important play is “Mr. Warren’s Profession” (1893). In this play he shows the prostitution as the image of capitalism and was not performed till 1902, as well as The Widower’s Houses, because they were considered too strong for the public audience. They were only performed in private. In 1894, Shaw published “Arms and the Man”, his best play to be performed in public. Others plays are “Major Barbara” (1905), “Getting Married” (1908) – a debate about marital issues-, “Pygmalion” (1913) – perhaps his best one. It is about a woman who is able to maintain her individuality among men. Another also important nowadays is “My Fair Lady”, which deals with the life of a poor young girl learning to speak in a polite way. He wrote other plays such as “Heart Break Hearts” (1920) and “Saint Joan” (1923). Shaw also wrote a letter about his ideals, which was published after his death. His plays dealt with sexual and material issues, and about lively situations of his time.
Carlos Sánchez Garrido Estudio Selectivo Drama
One of his features in his plays is the long prefaces. In these prefaces he gave his own opinion about the themes which were going to appear in the play.
BIBLIOGRAPHY BOOKS •
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Abrams, M. A. (ed.). (2001). The Norton Anthology of English Literature, Volume I . Seventh edition. New York: W.W. Norton and Co. Hunt, H., Richards, K. & Russell, T. J. (1978). The Revels History of Drama in English (Volume VII: Drama since 1800). London: Routledge. EXTRA MATERIAL
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Class notes.
