The Victorian Era spans over 60 years so we need to be careful when making sweeping statements about this time. Bronte's Jane Eyre was published in 1847, Hardy's Tess of the D'Urbevilles in 1891, and Wilde's The Importance of being Earnest in 1895--all under the Victorian Era umbrella.
We will be steeping ourselves in all things Victorian (yes, the class Tea Time with crumpets and cucumber sandwiches is coming soon!) so begin with some research on the social mores of the time around Wilde's writing and production of the play. What were society's views on the poor and charity? How about ideas on marriage and the pursuit of love? How about sex?
Also, what does "It's very non U" mean?
Due Wednesday 3pm......yummm....tea time....
Some of the social mores during the Victorian Era were that a woman's place was in the home, and her career was marriage. People, mostly upper class, were suppose to participate in charity and philanthropy. They were to be devoted to Christian worship.
ReplyDeleteThe large number of poor people was due to rapid urbanization that was brought on by the Industrial Revolution. The poor were viewed by society as social and moral outcasts . However, this era also brought out a lot of charities including some modern day charities, such as The Children's Society and the Society of the Relief of Distress.
In Victorian marriages love played a minor role. Engagements were entered into like business deals with certain rules that had to be followed. For example, Victorians were encouraged to marry within the same social class. Courtship was also considered more of a career move than anything else. It was taken very seriously, because once married, a woman's property reverted to the husband.
The Victorians felt that as far as sex women had to have been pure and clean. It was acceptable for a man to divorce his wife if he found out she was unclean. Also, a woman's worth was based on her abstinence before marriage.
"It's very non U", has to do with the social classes U meaning upper class, and non U representing the middle class.
Danielle Malcolm
Block 4
Oscar Wilde’s play, The Importance of Bring Earnest, was first performed in 1895. Throughout the play Victorian social customs are mocked repeatedly. In the Victorian Era , ranging from 1837 to 1901, there were certain expectations of people, especially women, that were to be completely abided by. This strict social “code of conduct” included values and morals such as earnestness, sexual restraint, a low tolerance of crime, hard work, responsibility, class, charity, and philanthropy. Victorian women had few rights; they were expected to not openly express themselves while in the presence of men, instead be pure, innocent, fragile, and supportive. Marriage was of great importance to these women, even though it was merely a business transaction. Once they married their only concerns were that their children developed moral values, the house was clean and comforting, and the husband was stress-free. Victorian men, on the other hand, represented authority and respectability; they spoke for the household and were in charge of a family’s income. Compared with the women who absolutely had to be faithful, the men could have as many mistresses as they pleased. Wealthy Victorian men and women looked down at the poor and working class, yet the Victorian era is thought to be one of charitable acts, beneficial to the well-being of mankind. A few modern-day charitable institutions began in the Victorian era.
ReplyDeleteNon U and U refers to dialect associated with the upper class (U) and middle to lower classes (non U) in England. Some specific examples of U to non U dialect are: looking glass (U), mirror (non U); die (U), pass on (non U); rich (U), wealthy (non U); and napkin (U), serviette (how gauche! non U).
Amy Marshall
Block 2
The Victorian Era, roughly covering the years 1837 to 1901, was characterized by a strict social and moral code by which people were expected to follow. Society was very patriarchal, expressing that a woman’s duty in life was merely to be a devout wife, Christian, and philanthropist. Morality played a prominent role, with social norms emphasizing self dignity, sexual restraint, strict rules against crime, and reputation. Sexual affairs were not to be discussed – “sex” was not something that women were even known to do unless it was for the purposes of reproduction, otherwise it would be considered promiscuous and improper. Men in the Victorian society, however, were allowed to freely engage in sexual activities – it was perfectly acceptable for men to use prostitutes and mistresses. Homosexuality was regarded as blasphemous and so incredibly immoral that was made illegal altogether.
ReplyDeleteSociety was burdened by a rigid class system, consisting of a wealthy upper class (who considered themselves elite and valued things like history, art, and family lineage), a middle class (who believed in working hard to earn their individuality and honor), and the impoverished. The Victorian Era claimed to be a time of altruism, and although it was considered very sophisticated and dignified for the upper class to be involved in charity, it was more of a hobby done for its good looks in society than for its actual ideals. Due to the socioeconomic hierarchy of the time, the upper class still marginalized the lower classes.
U and Non U are terms that refer to upper class or non-upper class (middle to lower class). They refer more specifically to dialects; for example, if you were upper class, you would say “lavatory paper” (U) as opposed to “toilet paper” (Non U).
Piper Miller
Block 4
The Victorian era marked the reign of Queen Victoria, from her coronation at age 18 in 1837 to her death in 1901. Although Wilde published his play The Importance of Being Earnest in 1895, at the tail end of the era, it didn't stop him from writing his satire of the values that were considered the "norm" throughout those 64 years. While the Victorian age was considered a time of large reforms in welfare, education, and industry, it still marked a large increase in population. Due to this population boom, there were more people in the lower class than ever. Society was aware of the problem, but the large scale at which poverty was experienced was quite overwhelming. The upper class initially saw it as an imposition that could not be fixed. This point of view was later altered, and many charities were formed as a result. Philanthropy became a part of everyday life, and many organizations today, such as The Children's Society and the Charity Organization Society have their origins in the Victorian era.
ReplyDeleteWhile marriage is highly romanticized, the concept of love played a very small part in marriage in Victorian society. A woman had to have a dowry and had to make careful choices in picking a husband, as she lost all of her possessions once she entered into a union. Victorian woman were only encouraged to marry up in class and were shunned if they married beneath them. No sexual content was allowed before marriage and a woman entering a union of marriage was expected to be pure. However, after marriage, the woman was only expected to have sex to reproduce and then take care of the children and household. It was common though, for the men to engage in sexual contact often with servants and prostitutes. The pursuit of love has been glorified in literature, as there was little in actuality.
Being "non U" is being uncharacteristic of the upper class, especially in language. The "U" refers to upper class vernacular, and "non U" to the lower and middle classes. Those who used "non-U" language were looked down upon and was a direct reflection on the upbringing of the people in society.
Some examples include: rich (U) and wealthy (non U); jam (U) and preserves (non U); and "have one's bath" (U) and "take a bath" (non U)
Holly Denton
Block 4
The Victorian era is known to be the time when Queen Victoria reigned, which was roughly between the years of (1837-1901.) During this time women were expected to stay home and pursue the roles of housewives, while the men pursued business. Married women had rights equal to those of the children. They could not vote, sue, or own property. Their bodies were to be seen as a “temple”, pure and clean. Sex was not to be discussed, and everyone was expected to follow strict guidelines as to how to act or talk in public.
ReplyDeleteDuring this time society was divided by the upper, middle, and working class, otherwise known as the poor. The upper class didn’t work, their money either came from inherited land or investments. The middle class men performed “clean” work, and were paid monthly or annually, while the working class, or the poor, performed physical labor, with daily or weekly salaries. To be poor was a disgrace, and they upper class didn’t want to be bothered by those more unfortunate than themselves.
Love and marriage didn’t mean to men and women as it does today, marriage was entered into as sort of a business deal, woman sometimes didn’t have a say in the matter. Families would arrange marriages based on social class in some cases, to maintain the respectability of their daughters.
U and non U usage stood for U representing upper class and non-U representing middle classes, this was part of the terminology of social dialects in the 1950s. Examples of U would be bike or dinner jacket, where as the non –U’s would say cycle or dress suit.
Alicia Weeks
Block 2
The Victorian Era was characterized by the reign of Queen Victoria from 1837-1901. It is characterized as a very long period, which had several changes regarding society that occurred throughout its duration.
ReplyDeleteSome of the social mores of the time included the practice of social restraint, because a woman’s reputation depended on it. (It would be very gauche to have sexual practices if you were not married). Also there was a low tolerance for crime, so there were severe punishments if you were caught for a crime, and of course, there was a very strict social code. Simply put, the upper class did not have any association with the lower classes, because they felt they were better and more prominent than anyone else in the society. Also, since England at the time was very well respected, the influence of their social mores began to spread all across the world. There were also a lot of social movements started for the sole purpose of improvement of life for the poor. The Victorian Era also consisted of a lot of philanthropy, and many of the charitable organizations we know today, have their roots during the time.
To be very “non U” simply meant that you acting more like the lower class, so the U would represent the Upper class. It could refer to actions as well as language, so if you spoke like you were of the lower class, then you were very non U.
The Victorian Era occurred between the years of 1837 to 1901. It was a time where everybody had to follow a certain set of rules and values in order to be accepted in society. During this time period people only spoke of certain subjects and acted certain ways in order to fit in the ideals of the time period.
ReplyDeleteWomen were not allowed to reveal their bodies and were only allowed to wear uncomfortable clothing so that they would not be able to do many things and therefore men would have more control and power. Women were not even allowed to show their ankles and most commonly wore corsets because it hurt their bodies.
There were three classes during this time period. There was the upper class which consisted of rich people who did not work but inherited all of their money, the middle class who worked and received decent amount of money, and the poor class which got little to no money and was simply living to survive. Although the rich could care less about the poor people, they did some charity work because it made them look like good people. However, they did not actually do it to help those poor people.
Women were not allowed to have any sex relations, otherwise they were looked at as unclean. It was very important for women to keep their image and name as clean as possible. Love wasn't a very big deal in the Victorian Era. People just married because it was the right and moral thing to do. Marriages were planned strictly so that each spouse was as clean as possible. The two would only have sex in order to reproduce. Once there was a family created, the parents raised their children to believe in their values and act the same way they do. The households were usually kept very organized and clean and everything had to be in stable order.
"Non U" means not characteristic of the upper class, especially in language usage.
Izzy Szura
Block 2
The Victorian Era was one of the most restraining times in history. Expression of happiness, lust, and choice were practically unheard of and did not fit with the norms of society. Women in this time period were seen as nothing more then place holders and breeders of the population, which is why the fertility rates increased throughout the era. Pleasure through sex and marriage was a taboo since everyone in a household had a room to themselves. Even then, the rightous morality that has labeled this era was exclusively reserved for the upper class. THroughout the time period, the borgeuoise and lower class seemed to not embrace the high moral ground that so plagued the upper class. Dining clubs were opened in order to combat the immorality of prostitution and drinking among men of the upper class. Women had but one goal, to marry and be teh perfect Stepford wife. To speak when spoken to. Beyond the realm of children and keeping a household, a women could not be expected to make any decisions on her own, this made securing a husband that more crucial. Hypocracy ran high for a man could keep a mistress in secret. If a woman was ever found to dabble in such thigns she would eb cut off by society and therefore have no means to survive. Classes had certain different takes on the Victorian Era. While women of the high class were expected to write and be ready at any moment for her husband, a middle class woman was filthy and worked. While a upper class lady needed to change at least 6 times a day in order to show off her family wealth. Non U means to act as if you were a part of a low class as in not like the Upper class.
ReplyDeleteCharity and philanthropy in the Victorian Era was very popular amongst the upper class because it was a means to show off their wealth in a way that made the individual look good. While liberal generosity through charity was favored, the Victorian era was mainly conservative, especially in the pursuit of love, marriage and sex. Unlike today where love and sex often come before marriage, marriage was not based on one's own decision. Women were betrothed or married to the most eligible bachelor at the time. Pre-marital sex and even subtle flirting were considered taboo and inappropriate.
ReplyDeleteNon U means for an upper class person to act like a lower class person.
Vanessa Whitney
Block 4
Oscar Wilde set "The Importance of Being Earnest" in the midst of the Victorian Era, a time where individuals were expected to abide by strict and rigid rules. Women during this time were disregarded as anything more than baby-makers and weren't allowed to partake in privileges such as voting or owning any estate whatsoever. The society valued the importance of marriage concerning social class and wealth, where no love or emotional attachment was involved. Love wasn't a factor in the marital process and women were often married off for the purpose of gaining wealth and stability. Men, however, married for comfort and companionship and to fulfill the society norm. As far as sex goes, women weren't allowed to engage in sexual activity for any reason other than procreation, otherwise they were seen as indecent and immoral. Men, however, were able to have sexual relations with any women they pleased without anyone having a problem, even if they were already married (prostitutes, mistresses, etc). The Upper class of this society basically was ran by a set of unwritten rules as to how they should conduct themselves, including how they should dress at certain occasions, how they were to consume their food, and they way they spoke. The Victorian middle class weren't much different form the upper class, they were still considerably wealthy and often business owners, but might not have associated with royal parties or occasions of such high standard. The lower class on the other hand struggled with finding and keeping jobs, and were looked down upon or not even looked upon at all by the upper classes. The poor were seen as physical laborers and not much more.
ReplyDeleteSomething being U and non U has to do with social class. Something would be "very non U" if it were something informal and uncharacteristic of the upper class (middle and lower class), aka "non-Upper class", usually related to use of language among social classes.
The Victorian Era is named after Queen Victoria who reigned over the United Kingdon from June 1837 until the day that she died, January 22, 1901. This was a prosperous time for the British people and the social structure was very uptight and demanding. A great example of this time was displayed in the play "The Importance of Being Earnest", written by Oscar Wilde. This farcical comedy was first performed on February 14, 1895 at St. James's Theatre in London. It's majory themes are the triviality with which it treats institutions as serious as marriage, and the resultng satire of Victorian ways. The separation of the classes is a big thing in the play, but one of the biggest things are the amount of power that the sexes harbor, or simply how the men have all of the power and the women to an extent have none. During this era difficulties escalated for women because of the vision of the "ideal women" shared by most of the society. the legal rights of married women are paralleled to those of children. they could not vote, sue, own property, or even think about politics. also, they were seen as pure and clean, which means that wearing anything that shows any skin other than you're hands and your face were considered scandelous and wrong altogether. because of this view, their bodies were seen as temples that should not be adorned with makeup nor used for such pleasureable things as sex, even when they are married. Being a wife was the equivelent of being privately owned property and your only purpose was to obey your husband, keep the house in order, and make sure the family name doesn't die out. Men, on the other hand, were able to do whatever they wanted whenever they wanted with whomever they wanted to do it with. This made the prositutes and the maids very "popular", but only continued to throw dirt on the word "woman". The play displays all of this with Gwendolyn having to get the permission of her parents to marry Jack and Cecily having to get the permission of Jack to marry Algenon. Yet Jack and Algy were able to do whatever they wanted throughout the entire play. Feminism was not a very strong word back then, but thankfully we're working on that.
ReplyDeleteWhen someone stated to a person that "it's very non U", they were telling that person that whatever they did was not likely to happen in the social upper class. If someone is non U then they are behaving in a peasantly manner.
Vashti Powell
Block 4
Victorian society around Oscar Wilde's time had everything to do with restraint and class. It was appropriate to only take the bare minimum amount of food at tea and everything was weighed against whether or not it exercised Christian restraint. Society viewed poor people as the lowly bottom of society, but since the industrial revolution, the upper class couldn't exactly ignore them. Charity was as hip as silly bands because to be charitable was to be a good Christian and everyone knows that a good upper class Christian in Victorian days started and funded a charity. The upper class did not work because all of their money was from inheritance, land or investments. Because they did not have jobs, they treated marriage like a career. Courtship was treated as such that it should be a business transaction because a man marrying a woman assumes the rights to claim over her and all that she possesses. One did not marry for love back. One married a woman for benefit of their family and their name. A good Christian loved stability and restraint, thus love did not come into the picture. Sex was never spoken of and done solely for the purpose of carrying on the human race. One did not enjoy sex, nor talk about it, nor think about it. A good Christian was pure in mind and soul. If you were a woman, you had no rights and were either purity and femininity or nothing. A man could be a good Christian and sleep with prostitutes on the weekend while he's off Bunburying. It was a restrictive, hypocritical time that was completely the opposite of what modern society is like today.
ReplyDeleteU and non-U refers to the differentiation in language between the middle classes and the upper classes of English society. One of upper class would say spectacles (U) and one of the middle class would say glasses (Non-U), or say jam (U) instead of preserve (Non-U).
-Tatiana Becker
Block 4
The Victorian Era ranged from 1837 to 1901. Having very different views from today’s society, the Victorian Era had very standard views on different social classes, marriage, love, and sex. During this era, charity was considered to be a very generous act that not helped the poor, but also made the individual donating look very good to those around him or her. The act of donating allowed the wealthy to show off their wealth and still look good doing it. Granted, the poor was still looked down upon by the upper class. The women in Victorian time were treated almost like objects. They were required to conform to a strict social code. To show the slightest bit skin in public was seen as whorish and provocative. Women viewed marriage as a very important, sacred act, but it was treated as more of a merger between two families. Married women lived a very stereotypical life of caring after children, making sure their husbands are cared for, and making sure that the house was kept spotless. The issue of sex was very different when comparing the acceptable standards for men and women. Men were basically allowed to screw whomever they wanted to, and it was viewed as acceptable behavior by society’s standards. Women on the other hand were expected to be as conceited and prude as possible. A woman only had her name in the Victorian Era, and if she had sex before marriage, her name would be destroyed. “Non U” refers to the lower class. “U” refers to the upper class.
ReplyDeleteWilde illustrates the norms of Victorian society around the mid 1890s by exploring concepts of love, marriage, sex, and class division. Man’s freedom to maintain his public virtue while engaging in licentious behavior is epitomized by Algernon’s expressions in the beginning of the play. On the issues of sex and love, he states “If ever I get married, I’ll certainly try to forget the fact” and “The only way to behave to a woman is to make love to her, if she is pretty, and to some one else, if she is plain” which demonstrates a disbelief in true love and belief in the entitlement to sexual pleasures. In contrast, Jack harbors a genuine love for Gwendolen, which is initially thwarted by Lady Bracknell, who greatly demonstrates the popular view of marriage as a profitable business engagement. She also describes the elements needed to be considered a part of the upper class, like income, investments, property, relations, and upright moral character. Speaking of moral character, the involvement in charity was a necessity of the upper class to exhibit a strong, religious disposition for social standing, rather than good-natured, purposes.
ReplyDeleteSomething that is considered “non-U” is middle-class, whereas something that is “U” is upper class. For example, it would be extremely non-U to say “Yo dawg, I need use the toilet, can I borrow a serviette and some perfume?” It would be much more U-er to use the words “lavatory,” “napkin,” and “scent.” You may want to leave out the “Yo dawg,” napkin, and scent part as well.
P.S. In Tess of the d’Urbervilles, the women were treated like you know what! If women lost their virtue, it was viewed as their fault, regardless of the situation, and essentially had nothing else to offer. Meanwhile, the guys are free to be scandalous! Geeze!
The Victorian Era, which spanned close to 70 years, was characterized by a strict patriarchal society dominated by men and the "Christian way". Morality monitored the day to day lives of everyone, creating a hierarchy by gender and among the socioeconomic classes as well. Women were often seen as objects, property which was only useful when kept in pristine condition. Because the upper-class received their wealth from family inheritance or land, marriage was seen as a laboring "job" that wasn't taken lightly. The process of courtship was a business transaction. So the woman doesn't love the man? Hah what rubbish! The less passion and love in a marriage, the better. Sex was unmentionable, and pleasure of any kind involved with it was unspoken as it was seen as only a means of reproduction. Outside of the marriage bedroom however, men were free to roam the
ReplyDeletestreets for prostitutes and whores as it was respectable for them to "take up a hobby", whatever that may be. For women on the other hand, the objective was to be seen and not heard, allowed only to study and speak of light topics such as art or the weather. Charity was of great concern to the upper classes, however only as a means to appear as a "good Christian" within the society; a mere hobby and not for its actual contribution to the lower classes. It is because these social customs are so different from the modern world that Oscar Wilde was able to satirize them so well.
As for the difference between U and non-U, it refers to the hierarchy that existed between the social classes and thus the varying dialects that were created as a result. For example, a mirror in non-U or lower and middle class homes would be called a looking-glass in the upper class or U.
Maria Savarese Block 4
The Victorian Era is often considered the time of "prudishness" and "repression". While this is true, social, political, and religious movements flourished promoting the time's second name, the Second English Renaissance. At this time social lines began to be redrawn as the middle class grew within the previous strict aristocratic society. Because this new social class emerged the upper class (the U) redefined the criteria of a proper Upper class citizen to distinguish themselves from the new wealth. This meant more restrictions on a woman from bigger tighter dresses to limited education of any sort. Marriage during the time period was largely pressed upon the woman as parents acted under the guise of their daughter's "best interest" to maintain Upper class purity. Formal courting methods were not acceptable, many girls married for the strategic advancement of their families and themselves. Once married the couple could engage in sex, completely taboo to do so before, but only for the pleasure of the man and reproduction. A woman was the mere instrument of her family and her husband. Activities were very limited for women especially because they were to be escorted everywhere. Many members of the Upper class found enjoyment in giving to charity as a show of their wealth and considerable politeness/rightness to give to the poor. This was also perhaps motivated by the religious zeal of the era, a true believer was taught to give to forgive their sins. This act they all played was admired by the middle class that desperately wanted to be a part of the "game". There were clear differences in the two however, one might say to one whom says "glasses" as "It's not very U" because the proper term is spectacles.
ReplyDeleteAyanna Spencer
Block 4
The social structure of the Victorian Era consisted of three classes, the upper, middle, and lower class. The upper class consisted primarily of nobility. The upper class did not work, as their income came from inherited land and investments. The middle class performed intellectual jobs such as banking, while the lower classes performed physical labor. Fueled by religion, charity became popular during the Victorian Era, when hundreds of philanthropic societies were formed throughout England. Social morals were characterized by sexual restraint, charity, and hard work. The ideals of marriage were focused on finances, not love. All of the woman's possessions were given to the husband. Women, who were considered to be pure, were urged not to wear clothing that revealed skin. Women were also not allowed to have sex before marriage and were generally expected to remain at the home. The usage of "U" and "non-U" refer to the upper(U) and middle classes(non-U).
ReplyDeleteEric Marshall
Block 2
Around the time that " The Importance of Being Ernest " was published (1895) , is now considered late Victorian Era , being that it ended 1901 . While many things changed over time , such as their fashions and writing styles , the general social mores remained the same . One major social more was the belief that the people had to live up to certain standards of society . Your class , manners , work ethic etc . were things that made you respectable , while things like crime and being flirtatious were looked down upon . Moreso , these standards were applied more extremely to women . Thye had barely no rights , simply doing what was told of them . They were expected to stay in the place of a woman , with strict dresscodes , and almost no individuality . Your good name was what really matter during that time and nothing should be done to ruin that .
ReplyDelete"non U" means not characteristic of the upper class , especially in language usage . So "It's very non U " means that it's not representive of the upper class , someone of the upper class wouldn't say something like that . It's basically when someone is speaking informally , sort of like how we jave slang in America .
During the Victorian Era, family life was patriarchal, meaning the man was the head of the household and the women had no say in anything. Any ideas of sex were repressed and love had little impact when it came to marriages. Marriages were more of a business deal, and quite the tedious process since certain rules had to be followed. One had to marry either above or in their class, because marrying someone below you was simply unacceptable. While they could receive inheritances, once women got married, they would have to turn their possessions over to the ownership of their husband. Sex was merely done for having children; although in 1887 it was estimated that 3% of London's population was comprised of prostitutes. Ironic, much? Philanthropy became the “thing” during the Victorian Era and several charities, such as The Children's Society, can trace their beginnings to this time.
ReplyDelete“It's very non U,” means that its very lower class. “Non-U” stood for lower class, or aspiring middle class and “U” stood for upper class.
Cinthya Castro
Block 4
The Victorian era had many traditions and customs that are mocked throughout the play The Importance of Being Earnest. The separation of classes that is made clear in the play has an important role in that it can limit a person’s style of life, or ensure that it is boundless. Classes were separated and expected to uphold generalized actions deemed proper for each division. The poor were looked far down upon, and held to much lower standards beyond universal separation or servantry. The upper classes associated with upper class citizens, and the poor were left to associate as they pleased. Anything that seems to be social beneath a class could be considered “non U”, or not characteristic of the upper classes. Marriage was an act that was independent of emotion as well, a social task that was oftentimes not even decided by those to be wed. Love was considered a trivial romanticism, developed further by the distinction of gender roles played at the time. Males played a more dominant role, as females were expected to lack all masculine traits and remain haplessly helpless. Appearance was vital for women; they were expected to look well-brought-up and expose nothing of themselves. As even too much physical exposure could cause a social uproar, sex before marriage was out of the question, and sex in itself was considered sacred to the individual.
ReplyDeleteMatt Brown
Block 2
The Victorian era is the period of Queen Victoria’s ruling which is was 1837-1901. It was considered one of the most strict and well mannered times where everyone had to behave a specific way and follow specific rules. Life for women in this time period was that they were devoted housewife and had to be covered at all times nothing at all were able to be showed such as ankles and the arms. They were considered “property” of their husbands and people to help populate the country. The possessions of married women didn’t belong to them, it belongs to their husband. Women weren’t allowed to vote, sue, own property, or even engaged in conversations about politics.
ReplyDeleteThe idea of marriage in the Victorian Era was not a romanticized or fairytale-like the novels that we read. It was rarely based on love and more on staying within that social class. People engaged as if they were enter a business transaction. Sex was something that wasn’t even to be heard off. Sex was something that women were not to be a part of; they were considered pure. Although for men sex was accepted; they were allowed to engage in many different activities that women weren’t.
The society were made up of several different classes such as the wealthy upper class also known as the elite families, the middle class also known as the working class that knew what working hard was, and the lower class which was known as those less fortunate or the poor. There were also things known as poor houses which are a shelter that assisted the people that were living in poverty. According to the Victorians, poverty was a sign of moral weakness. Everyone felt that people only lived in poverty because they lacked the moral ability to improve themselves. The upper class also gave charity to show that they were wealth not because they actually wanted to help the less fortunate.
The meaning of “it’s very non U” means not characteristic of the upper classes. “U” being the upper class and “non U” being the lower class.
Victorian Courtship
ReplyDeleteIn the Victorian Era, people of the upper class saw the poor as fools who spend their money and time drinking and gambling. At the same time, the world saw a sudden rise in philanthropy. Many charitable institutions similar to The Children’s Society grew in order to help the younger generations leave poverty.
As for marriage and the pursuit of love, it was a social norm that young ladies be accompanied at all times by their mothers or another elderly married woman. Balls were the only ways that young ladies were introduced to society. At the balls, the young ladies were to remain beside their chaperone at all-time except if they were asked to dance. After the dances the young ladies were to immediately report to their chaperone’s side. However, at balls if young ladies danced with the same partner for more than three dances was considered extremely inappropriate.
Sexual contact before marriage was strictly prohibited unless the young ladies wanted to never marry. No impure conversations were held in front of unmarried women. A lady should never be involved in any rude plays that will subject her to be handled in any way by gentlemen. For example if a gentlemen’s hand were to reach and admire a breast pin, the lady is to draw back and take off for inspection.
“It’s very non U” means non-upper class characteristics, particularly in language use.
Georgette Taluy
Block 4
The Victorian Era can be widely defined as a time of restraint and morality. It’s a given that society was very limiting of women; a woman’s role was solely too devout herself to her husband, church and charity. Morality was key in shaping the social norms of the day, stressing, self-dignity, sexual restraint, strict rules against crime, and reputation. Sex, it goes without saying, was a big no no. Sex was considered to be a dirty and unrefined thing, which was to be, preformed only a woman’s obligation to England (just lay back and think of England). Men on the other hand though were encouraged to express their sexuality freely, indulging in it without care or shame. It also goes without saying though that even men had some restrictions. Homosexuality was regarded as blasphemous and absolutely so immoral that was made illegal altogether. Furthermore the pursuit of “true love” among the upper class was altogether outlawed. It was much more proper for a family to arrange a marriage between two wealthy young man and woman who may be “more fit for each other”.
ReplyDeleteSociety was sectioned off into various social classes, the Upper class which was considered elite and refined, the middles class, which would be the working class, and the impoverished who would rely on the upper class for their philanthropy. Yes that’s right, the upper class frequently took place in various charities to maintain a squeaky clean persona. The act of philanthropy was often done without ideals in mind, and rather the pursuit of better teatime conversation. The classes were even defined by a completely different language, Lavatory paper over toilet paper; pass on rather than die, etc. lastly the classes could be divided up into two groups, U (Upper class), and non U (middle class and bellow). It would be considered very “non U” to speak of very scandalous events at teatime, or laugh to excessively. It goes without saying that fun was considered so very gauche!
Dakota Edelstein
4th block
:)
Acording to my research, the high-class social morality, modesty, and proper decorum of the upper class inspired by Queen Victoria of England defined the main characteristics of the Victorian Era. The upper class followed the strict guidlelines of reputation above all because it was all they had, for many were simply born into nobility, inheriting land and riches from wealthy families and never had to work a day in their lives.
ReplyDeleteWomen during this era were severely restricited. Those in the upper class were forced to marry whomever would benefit their family best, a topic in which some novels of the time were written to display. The pursuit of love was considered to be nothing but child's play and nothing befitting of a proper woman who also had to practice sexual restraint.
The upper class did not concern themselves socially with the poor but did do much charity work in order to raise their reputations. Those who are "Non- U" are those who were not in the upper class and therefore did not have a firm social standing in society and were not of very much importance. Those that didn't own significant land, or had a high income, or came from a wealthy family were not of a high class.
Francheska Periche
Block 4
The Victorian Era was one of the first eras to almost glorify the act of child labour. This was based on the grounds that no one person or family should be in debt or poverty, the children of the poor were expected to help towards the family budget, often working long hours in dangerous jobs for low wages. Children were also employed to work in coal mines, crawling through tunnels too narrow and low for adults. Children also worked as errand boys, crossing sweepers, or shoe blacks, or selling matches, flowers, and other cheap goods. Some children undertook work as apprentices to respectable trades, such as building, or as domestic servants (there were over 120,000 domestic servants in London in the mid 18th century). Many young people worked as prostitutes (the majority of prostitutes in London were between 15 and 22 years of age). Regarding sex, prostitution while a Taboo among the middle class it was still done in the upper class it was strictly denied women also wouldn't be able to enjoy sex meaning male dominance stretched to the bedroom. Finally it's very non U, has to do with the social classes U meaning upper class, and non U representing the middle class.
ReplyDeleteEddie McKelligett
Blcock 4
The Victorian era in England was marked by rapid increase in population, as well as the rise of urbanization, thus leading to a huge increase in the level of poverty. Buildings that were opulent mansions in days gone by became run down tenement houses. Ofttimes, upwards of 30 people would live in a single room. Charity was only present in small amounts, and it was only due to the fact that he wealthy viewed society in a paternalistic way and felt it was their job to "take are" of everybody else.
ReplyDeleteLet's talk about sex...
Sex was a very taboo subject in that era and sexual desires and feelings were not discussed openly in society. It was so frowned upon that writers would rarely talk about it overtly in their works. Instead they would use complex metaphors and coded language, often employing the language of flowers (or, as was the case with Earnest, using muffins). Homosexuality was against the law, and Earnest's writer, Oscar Wilde was sentenced to two years of hard labor for having gay affairs. Prostitution was considered to be the greatest of social evils, and many books were written revolving around the theme of the "fallen women". Many centers were opened across england dedicating to "reforming" ex-prostitutes.
And that's that.
Rev. Mack Kennedy
Blcock 4
Oh ass, i forgot to talk about being "non U"
ReplyDeleteU and Non U were part of the vernacular among high society in both Britain and New England during the 1950s The "U" itself stood for "upper class" and the term was used to describe the differences in the way people from high society would talk as opposed to the people from the aspiring middle classes trying to break into high society.
Examples:
U-Dinner Jacket Non U-Dress Suit
U-Spectacles Non U-Glasses
U-Scent Non U-Perfume
Rev. Mack Kennedy
The U stands for the upper class. To be considered Non-U would be considered anything that isn’t socially acceptable to be included in the upper class, and also stands for the middle class.
ReplyDeleteDuring the Victorian era grace and morality were major factors. Anyone who deviated from the strict moral code would be regarded as gauche. Women were tied down to the house hold while the men went out and conducted politically affairs. Because of the strict morality, sex was something that was not discussed on a regular basis. For woman, sex was something that was done for the sake of England and not for pleasure. Men, on the other hand, were able to engage in sexual activities without the judgment of society. Charity and philanthropy was something that was a result of the population boom and the increase of the poverty-stricken middle-class. Marriage was not necessarily out of love. Marriages were conveniences and were often arranged by the parents of the girls. Women were property of their husbands and had no say in important affairs. Women were encouraged to marry in the upper class and if they did not they were shunned from society.
Cassie Block 4
The Victorian Era began in 1837 and ended in 1901. During this time the social expectations, especially for women, were extremely strict and must be followed in order to be accepted into society. Women were required to dress covered from the neck down, covering all wrists, ankles, etc. in order to avoid being “provocative” and deemed a whore by society, while a man (even a married man) was allowed as many mistresses as he wished. Women also were expected to focus on their career, being a mother. This career was done from the home, and their sole purpose is to take care of their children and family. Women were not allowed to speak openly or express their emotion in the presence of a man. The social code being extremely strict constituted social expectations such as little tolerance for crime, but very much respected community service work. Many organizations formed are still in existence, even if just living on through the theory of the organization. These were approved of in society because it allowed wealthy individuals to flaunt their wealth to the whole of society. “It’s very non U” describes something that is not upper class, U being the chosen representation to describe the upper class. There were definitions of upper class and lower class in many ways, especially diction. There are many words that have two descriptions because one was the upper class and the other was lower class.
ReplyDeleteArien Tripp ~ block 2
Oscar Wilde’s “ The Importance of Being Earnest” was written closer to the end of the Victorian Era. This Era was characterized by traditions and reputation. The society’s views on marriage and the pursuit of love was very structured. Women were expected to conduct themselves in a manner that was extremely well feminist and modest. To insure this behavior was always in use, women were chaperoned whenever and wherever they went. Sex was thought of as a private matter and any public inclination of it would be looked down on as very inappropriate. The closest women got to showing any sign of sexual intentions was through the use of fans, gloves, and handkerchiefs. Though viewed as a very lavish era, the Victorian Era was also marked with a very high rate of poverty. The earlier view towards the poor was very detached. Many felt that the current social order was put into place to serve a specific purpose. Later the Victorian Era became a very philanthropic era as the plight of the poor became more burdensome on the hearts of the more fortunate.
ReplyDeleteThe social order during the Victorian Era was upper and lower class. The Upper class referred as “ U” and “ non U” was simply not of the upper class. This distinguish between the two is what guided the ideas of sex, marriage, and public appearance.
The Victorian Era, probably more then any other period of time in British history, was characterized by repressive social institutions that enforced the oppression of those groups perceived as "lesser" by society. The two main social subgroups that constituted the "lesser" part of society were the lower classes and women. Because Victorian Society adopted a strict class system that allowed for virtually no interaction between members of different socioeconomic classes, the only time wealthy individuals would come into contact with those from the lower classes was via charity work. Christianity required altruism by the rich, but oftentimes these philanthropic acts were undertaken so that one would look charitable in the eyes of one's peers. Social perception mattered considerably more than actually assisting those less well off, because the moral code was predicated on gaining dignity and respect. Another way the divide between the haves and the have-nots was established was through accents, which were clear cues of socioeconomic status. A ‘U’ was someone who spoke with an upper class accent and used phrases such as “drawing room,” whereas a ‘non-U’ was lower class, and would describe the same room as a “lounge.” The second group that was oppressed by Victorian sensibilities was women. Marriage was solely for status—marriages of love were never an option among the upper classes. Sex was regarded as something nasty that was never discussed among polite company. Even once they were married, women were to engage in sexual acts for reproduction only, while men were free to cavort about with as many mistresses as they pleased. Fashionable married couples even slept in different beds, and those who were truly up with the times even slept in separate rooms. As such, Victorians were fiercely homophobic, although sometimes unmarried girls lived with other women for decades in a platonic situation that was referred to as a ‘romantic friendship.’
ReplyDeleteNari Kretschmer
Block 4
The Victorian Era, roughly from 1837 to 1901, is characterized by social constraints on womens roles and mens freedom. Its ideals are centered around high class women holding insignificant roles in politics and education. While the Victorian Era is characterized by wealth and position in society, poverty increased because its focus was not on how society ought to function. In "The Importance of Being Earnest", the women were as involved in the elegant lifetsyle as in the beginning of the era. They were more involved with the reputation of those in the high elite. One married for the purpose of spreading wealth into families and continuing, if not increasing, the popularity of ones name. It was not usual for people to marry because they loved each other. This was an era that did not focus on the assistance of the lower class or providing charity. Women and men have distinct roles. It was seen as inappropriate for women to show parts of their bodies and interact with multiple men. The ideal women was untouched. Men, however, were allowed to sleep with prostitutes and be comfortable. They were the ultimate head of the household.
ReplyDeleteNonU simply represents the lower class and the activites. Tea parties were U, while working was nonU.
The Victorian Era views on love and marriage was basically: they did not correlate with each other. A woman didn’t marry for love, what an appalling thing to say! A woman married because she was uneducated and all she knew was to get married and make babies. If a woman was educated it was considered to be unattractive and if they did have children they would come out deformed. The view of marriage did not change much across the social classes. A woman always aimed to marry into a higher social class than what she herself is in. So for the upper class, the aim was to keep her status and the reputation of her family. A woman’s place in the household once married was to be in the kitchen and to obey her husband. A woman is there only to serve and support her husband in whatever he does. Sex, like all things was used for baby making and that is it, it was terribly unfashionable to over indulge anything including sex, and it was most definitely never brought up in conversations outside the bedroom, “Oh how rude and classless!” As for charity and the poor, it was more about being fashionable to help the poor, “I donated $500 dollars to the poor how much did you donate?” It was more of the fact that the more you donated or helped out the richer you were or the more time you had on your hands, in some cases the rich had so much time that they had room for parties and helping the unfortunate, what a life! Many of the charitable social gatherings had their root in the Victorian age like, The Children’s Society, first started in the Victorian era and it is a charity function that still takes place today. “Its very non U would mean that you had no class, were uneducated, poor, your family has no status, and you have no reputation to uphold. U stood in for the upperclass. Non U meant anything that was against aristocracy
ReplyDeleteThe Victorian Era, the great era of snobbery and social class. Such a time was it when everything was "hush hush." Did you just imply that I'm pretty, and you're not my husband, Oh Goodness! The era, filled with such great literary works like Jane Eyre and our wonderful Earnest, set the "norm" for social classes. Women were regarded as "flashy objects," they served one purpose: they were wives. They had their place, and men roamed about freely, like we do now :) The era was a time of snobbery, as constantly people tried to out do others, constantly "Keeping up with the Joneses." But this time was not a period of carefree laughter and fun, it was a SERIOUS time! No funny, no innuendo, and the weather and scenery was discussed over tea-time. One had to BELONG in a certain category to be "wanted" or desired; you couldn't marry just anybody! How scandalous. Alas, this era was filled with the U and Not U. How pretentious people can be! If you were of the upper class (the U), you would say fancy shmancy words like "serviette" for "napkin" (Vive le francais!) or "powder-room" for "restroom." Of course we shan't forget about the "drawing-room" or the "cuisinette," only commoners, the Non U, would DARE say "lounge" or "kitchen." I believe my grandmaman would be in the U class.....don't you dare call the toilet or the chairs by their "typical names." According to her, one uses the "commode" and sits in the "chaises"....typical social classes influenced by the wondrous Victorian era
ReplyDelete-Evan Jackson
Block Two :D
In the Victorian era, keeping ones good name name and virtue was of the upmost importance. Social mores such as the covering up of flesh became widly popular amongst mainly the upper class, and if one were to wear clothing that was revealing even iota of skin, they would be considered to be scandolous and their virtue would be tarnished. Being a part of "the U" ment that one had to keep standardes high and be quite the philanthropist, by being part of charity orgonizations. Sex was one of the elephants in the room when it came to the Victorian era. Sex was NEVER to be talked about in public and even in private in some cases. The Victorian era for the wealthy was a time of sophistication and class even though this was during a time of industrialization and innovation where the poor were working in horrid conditions.
ReplyDelete