History of the Period: Victorian Era Great Britain
by Emily Sherman
Henry James’s The Turn of the Screw was published in 1898. In order to fully understand this text, we must look at the happenings of the time period in which James lived. Due to the fact that James lived in both America and England during his life, both locations’ histories must be addressed.
The Victorian Era—or the time period in which Queen Victoria ruled Great Britain— was one of the most peaceful and prosperous times in Britain’s history. Confidence in Britain was high, and there were many changes in day-to-day life from the preceding Gregorian Era. Life in London became driven largely by custom, where custom had been much less important in preceding eras. Also differing from preceding eras, there was less negotiating, whether in trade, working life, or class distinction. Londoners were said to have developed a “take-it-or-leave-it” mentality, which led to an increase in competition. Life in Great Britain became fast-paced as each citizen fought to outdo one another in this business driven era. An example of this drive to outdo one another is the governess in “The Turn of the Screw.” The governess accepted her job not because of her knowledge of the skills necessary, but because of its high pay. This is a prime example of the lengths to which people were willing to go to get a “leg-up” in this business-driven time.
London began to expand during this time, absorbing its suburbs and extending further and further into the countryside. This caused the class structure of a working, middle, and upper class that had begun with the Industrial Revolution to stabilize, and remain that way until the beginning of WWI. Within these classes, concepts of Victorian gentlemen and women emerged. “Working women” became more prominent as women gained more rights, including the right to vote in 1918. By 1901 women composed 29.1% of the labor force as they forged an identity as prominent members of society. The governess in the novella exemplifies this aspect of Great Britain’s history as well. While the job of the governess was not new to the era, it was one example of a place where women worked in order to make a name for themselves.
The Victorian Gentlemen became more than just a title given by class during the time. Men were held to a certain moral standard during the Victorian Era, one that mirrored the chivalric moral code. These morals were sometimes even called the “essence of a gentleman”. (Cody 1) This moral standard lessened tension between the classes, and Victorian age London was said to be less aristocratic than Gregorian age London, while class distinctions were still definite. Despite these expectations of men to be “gentlemanly”, the male characters in “The Turn of the Screw” do not hold themselves to the chivalric moral code. James chose to have his characters oppose the norm. In the novella, Quint is anything but chivalrous, sleeping around with no regard to the people he hurt in the process. The master of Bly also ignored morals, ignoring his duties to his niece and nephew.
Knowledge of the history of a time period when a book was written provides great insight into the details of that book. Henry James’s The Turn of the Screw was written in a period of great innovation and change, which makes historical context all the more important. The Victorian Era in Great Britain was a time of prosperity and peace, one where women were making a name for themselves, and upper class men held themselves to a moral standard that reduced tension between classes. Business was important, and new ideas about how trade should be run came into play. Overall, the time period was a flourishing one, one of harmony and virtue.
Works Cited
Burnett, John. "Appendix — The Author's Autobiographical Reminiscences." Appendix The Author's Autobiographical Reminiscences. Victorian Web, 22 July 2002. Web. 04 Apr. 2013.
Cody, David. "The Gentleman." The Gentleman. Victorian Web, 3 Feb. 2011. Web. 04 Apr. 2013.
McDonnell, John. "Life in London." Life in London. Victorian Web, 20 Oct. 2001. Web. 02 Apr. 2013
The Victorian Era—or the time period in which Queen Victoria ruled Great Britain— was one of the most peaceful and prosperous times in Britain’s history. Confidence in Britain was high, and there were many changes in day-to-day life from the preceding Gregorian Era. Life in London became driven largely by custom, where custom had been much less important in preceding eras. Also differing from preceding eras, there was less negotiating, whether in trade, working life, or class distinction. Londoners were said to have developed a “take-it-or-leave-it” mentality, which led to an increase in competition. Life in Great Britain became fast-paced as each citizen fought to outdo one another in this business driven era. An example of this drive to outdo one another is the governess in “The Turn of the Screw.” The governess accepted her job not because of her knowledge of the skills necessary, but because of its high pay. This is a prime example of the lengths to which people were willing to go to get a “leg-up” in this business-driven time.
London began to expand during this time, absorbing its suburbs and extending further and further into the countryside. This caused the class structure of a working, middle, and upper class that had begun with the Industrial Revolution to stabilize, and remain that way until the beginning of WWI. Within these classes, concepts of Victorian gentlemen and women emerged. “Working women” became more prominent as women gained more rights, including the right to vote in 1918. By 1901 women composed 29.1% of the labor force as they forged an identity as prominent members of society. The governess in the novella exemplifies this aspect of Great Britain’s history as well. While the job of the governess was not new to the era, it was one example of a place where women worked in order to make a name for themselves.
The Victorian Gentlemen became more than just a title given by class during the time. Men were held to a certain moral standard during the Victorian Era, one that mirrored the chivalric moral code. These morals were sometimes even called the “essence of a gentleman”. (Cody 1) This moral standard lessened tension between the classes, and Victorian age London was said to be less aristocratic than Gregorian age London, while class distinctions were still definite. Despite these expectations of men to be “gentlemanly”, the male characters in “The Turn of the Screw” do not hold themselves to the chivalric moral code. James chose to have his characters oppose the norm. In the novella, Quint is anything but chivalrous, sleeping around with no regard to the people he hurt in the process. The master of Bly also ignored morals, ignoring his duties to his niece and nephew.
Knowledge of the history of a time period when a book was written provides great insight into the details of that book. Henry James’s The Turn of the Screw was written in a period of great innovation and change, which makes historical context all the more important. The Victorian Era in Great Britain was a time of prosperity and peace, one where women were making a name for themselves, and upper class men held themselves to a moral standard that reduced tension between classes. Business was important, and new ideas about how trade should be run came into play. Overall, the time period was a flourishing one, one of harmony and virtue.
Works Cited
Burnett, John. "Appendix — The Author's Autobiographical Reminiscences." Appendix The Author's Autobiographical Reminiscences. Victorian Web, 22 July 2002. Web. 04 Apr. 2013.
Cody, David. "The Gentleman." The Gentleman. Victorian Web, 3 Feb. 2011. Web. 04 Apr. 2013.
McDonnell, John. "Life in London." Life in London. Victorian Web, 20 Oct. 2001. Web. 02 Apr. 2013
