Victorian society put a high value on a gentleman’s good reputation and there was huge pressure to conform to society’s expectations. Desires and habits that did not fit in with these expectations had to be hidden or repressed and the novel explores the consequences of this.
What was extremely important during the Victorian era?
The period saw the British Empire grow to become the first global industrial power, producing much of the world’s coal, iron, steel and textiles. The Victorian era saw revolutionary breakthroughs in the arts and sciences, which shaped the world as we know it today.
Why is reputation important in Jekyll and Hyde?
The Importance of Reputation
For the characters in Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, preserving one’s reputation emerges as all important. The prevalence of this value system is evident in the way that upright men such as Utterson and Enfield avoid gossip at all costs; they see gossip as a great destroyer of reputation.
How does Stevenson deal with the importance of reputation?
Stevenson creates a suspicious atmospherein which characters are forced to keep secrets out of fear of their reputation being ruined. It is clear that the characters in the novella hold their reputation dear to them and fear for it being tarnished.
What is the Victorian stereotype?
The Victorian stereotype and double standard
Today “Victorian” connotes a prudish refusal to admit the existence of sex, hypocritically combined with constant discussions of sex, thinly veiled as a series of warnings. There is some truth to both sides of this stereotype.
What was life like in Victorian society?
Men, women and children all had to live separately, so families couldn’t stay together. The food wasn’t very good, and children weren’t taught how to read and write. Everyone had to wear the same uniform, and breaking any rules would mean strict punishment. If you were rich, then life was completely different!
What are 5 interesting facts about the Victorian era?
10 Interesting facts about the Victorian Era
- Taxidermy was also huge in the Victorian Era.
- Victorians wore a lot of black.
- Freakshows were also big in the Victorian Era.
- When someone passed the family would often have a photograph taken of the body.
- Gothic novels were at their peak.
Why was reputation so important?
Reputation determines the social standing of a person in the society. It is a measure of his or her influence. A person enjoying good reputation is definitely preferred for better jobs and for taking up leadership roles.
Why a reputation is important?
Your reputation ultimately determines your future opportunities. This is because others’ perception of you precedes you before you even enter the room. You may not even be given an opportunity if your reputation has negative connotations.
Why is reputation such an important thing?
You will attract loyal customers. You will increase the numbers of customers and sales you generate. You will distinguish yourself from your competition. You will promote a good lasting relationship with your clients.
How does Jekyll fit in with respectable society?
Dr Jekyll is respected due to his wealth, reputation as a charitable man and his discoveries in science. The doctor gave one of his pleasant dinners to some five or six old cronies, all intelligent reputable men, and all judges of good wine.
How does Mr Utterson protect his reputation?
Utterson represents the perfect Victorian gentleman. He consistently seeks to preserve order and decorum, does not gossip, and guards his friends’ reputations as though they were his own.
How does Utterson protect Jekyll’s reputation?
When Sir Danvers Carew is murdered, Utterson protects his friend Jekyll by not mentioning their relationship to the police. Utterson is a lawyer and therefore a respectable, wealthy man in Victorian London.
What was considered rude in the Victorian era?
Never eat very fast. Never fill the mouth very full. Never open your mouth when chewing. Never make noise with the mouth or throat.
How did Victorians view social class?
The Victorians liked to have their social classes clearly defined. The working class was divided into three layers, the lowest being ‘working men’ or labourers, then the ‘intelligent artisan’, and above him the ‘educated working man’. In reality, things were not so tidily demarcated.
What attitude did Victorians have which made them different?
Low tolerance of crime and antisocial/immoral behaviour.
What were Victorian attitudes to reputation and appearance?
Victorian society put a high value on a gentleman’s good reputation and there was huge pressure to conform to society’s expectations. Desires and habits that did not fit in with these expectations had to be hidden or repressed and the novel explores the consequences of this.
Was Victorian society a moral one in what way?
Generally speaking, Victorian moral codes emphasized faith, charity, and respect. That all sounds swell. However, it generally meant faith in Christianity, charity towards people who that you systemically put down, and respect toward people that were more successful than you.
What are the three fears of the Victorian society?
The anxieties of the Victorian Era as they are represented in Bram Stoker’s Dracula, fears that include scientific growth, female empowerment, homosexuality, and foreign colonization, are not so different from the fears that American society has today.
What did the Victorian era focus on?
Historical Context. The Victorian Era, spanning the duration of Queen Victoria’s rule from 1837 – 1901, is characterized by the expanding horizons of education and literacy, as well as by an increased desire of the people to question religion and politics.
What were Victorians obsessed with?
The Victorians are known for their prudish and repressed behavior. But few are aware of their almost fanatical obsession with death. And no one was more fixated than the era’s namesake, Queen Victoria, ruler of England from 1837 to 1901.