FASH 162 Lecture : jhvdbwbej6
3 Jul 2020
School
Department
Course
Professor
Prof. Martin Löschnigg
VO British Culture – History and Society
Part 10 – 27.5.2019
19th century
• Matrimonial Causes Act of 1857: under certain circumstances, women were now able
to divorce
• Married Women’s Property Act 1870: women were now allowed to own a property
Sarah Grand’s book “The Heavenly Twins” - about difference between sexes
“Jude the obscure” by Thomas Hardy, deals with class, education, marriage; one main
character is called Sue Bridehead
1848: revolutions on continent, begin of a prosperous decade, but between 1853 and 1856
interrupted by the Crimean War (though being fought far away from homeland, it was the
first war extensively covered by journalists; also led by a professional army)
Why did Britain enter this war? – The Russian tsar was expanding towards the eastern
Mediterranean, England joined France and Ottoman Empire vs. Russia. The Crimea peninsula
was the main battleground
Utilitarian and logistical incompetence define the British in this war. As a result, in 1854, the
Charge of the Light Brigade (British military action) was completely wiped out by the
Russians in the Battle of Balaclava (eight cavalry units), glorifying the massacre
Florence Nightingale: “Lady with the Lamp”, mother of modern nursery
Queen Victoria (1847-1901), married to Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg Gotha (a German
prince). Later, the dynasty would change its name to Windsor
Victoria and her husband are still very present nowadays - Victoria and Albert Museum
(Kensington). Victoria and Albert styled themselves as a normal middle-class family and were
thus very popular amongst the people. While Victoria was not very intellectually gifted,
Albert represented the open-minded, intellectual counterpart.
Respectability
• Socially: financial independence was achieved through own efforts, not just through
inheritance (Manchester Liberalism), nothing should interfere with “natural”
workers; the self-made man was a role model in Victorian times. On the downside,
being poor was seen as something you are to blame for yourself
• Morally: rigid sexual mores, Charles Dickens, for example, encouraged those morals
• Boundaries between old (aristocracy) and new rich (business men) became blurred
Mid-19th century: social peace in Britain
Document Summary
19th century: matrimonial causes act of 1857: under certain circumstances, women were now able to divorce, married women"s property act 1870: women were now allowed to own a property. Sarah grand"s book the heavenly twins - about difference between sexes. Jude the obscure by thomas hardy, deals with class, education, marriage; one main character is called sue bridehead. The russian tsar was expanding towards the eastern. Mediterranean, england joined france and ottoman empire vs. russia. Utilitarian and logistical incompetence define the british in this war. Charge of the light brigade (british military action) was completely wiped out by the. Russians in the battle of balaclava (eight cavalry units), glorifying the massacre. Florence nightingale: lady with the lamp , mother of modern nursery. Queen victoria (1847-1901), married to prince albert of saxe-coburg gotha (a german prince). Later, the dynasty would change its name to windsor. Victoria and her husband are still very present nowadays - victoria and albert museum (kensington).
