Context

Context

Charles Dickens published ‘David Copperfield’ serially 1849 and in book form in 1850. Dickens wrote ‘David Copperfield’ as a form of semi-autobiography, as he relates to earlier experiences such as working in a factory and his education. 

The novel is classed as a presentation of psychological development. This is shown through various different actions and beliefs present in the Victorian era such as; patriarchy, class division and domestication of women. 

Patriarchy & Gender Roles

David is fatherless and is punished by the patriarchal harshness of his stepfather Mr Murdstone. Patriarchy in the 19th century was much more apparent as gender roles stated women as being physically weaker yet morally superior. This meant that they were suited best to the domestic “sphere”.

They were taught not in basic education but more maternal ways as well as “accomplishments” that would help them find a husband. Jane Austen’s ‘Pride and Prejudice’ explains this through the quote.

“A woman must have a thorough knowledge of music, singing, drawing, dancing, and the modern languages … ; and besides all this, she must possess a certain something in her air and manner of walking, the tone of her voice, her address and expressions … “

This is carried on to marriage when girls are told to marry in their early 20’s, and to a man typically 5 years older to retain the natural hierarchy. Additionally, this was due to the man showing that he had made enough money within those 5 years in order for the girl's father to allow her to marry.

Victorian Era

In 1837, Victoria came to the throne after the death of William IV. 

A year later, Dickens released his well-renowned novel ‘Oliver Twist’ and brought social evils to the public attention, something that he is now known for. Later that year, slavery had been abolished in the British Empire where over 700,000 slaves were set free from plantation owners, though receiving no compensation in return. 

In 1845, the Irish potato famine began. Fields that had provided near 60% of the nation’s food supply started to rot over Ireland. Over the 4-year-period, it is estimated that approximately 1 million people died and another million immigrated to mostly Britain and/or North America. 

In 1847, ‘Wuthering Heights’ and ‘Jane Eyre’ were both published. Both are immediately well-received and have become stables in English literature over the years. 

In July of 1848, the Public Health Act aimed to reduce death rates due to pressure from administrator Edwin Chadwick and the findings of the Health of Towns Commission. Parliament passed legislation to improve urban conditions and death rates. Health boards were established where death rates exceeded 23 per 1000. This proved to be an unpopular move and the Central Board of Health was wound up in 1858. 

The Communist Manifesto was also published by Karl Marx and Fredrich Engels. It announced Marx as a more prominent socialist figure, leading to the implementation of the communist way in countries such as Russia and China in the early 20th century. 

Bibliography

Picard, L. (2009) The working classes and the poor, British Library. 

History : British history timeline (2014) BBC. 

Rabon, J. (2022) Victorian britain: Ten important events of the 1840s, Anglotopia.net. 

Taylor, J.B. (2011) David Copperfield, Encyclopædia Britannica. 

Hughes, K. (2014) Gender Roles in the 19th Century , British Library.