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2.2. Review on the British Society of the Early Victorian Era 2.2.1 Governmental and Political Condition
The parliament was ruled mostly by the high class. They ruled the government and created laws that must be obeyed by others. One of the
requirements for being a Member of Parliament is the ownership of the land, as George King said “Ownership of the land was an eligibility requirement for the
member of Parliament” qtd. from the New Encyclopedia Britannica Volume 3 261. Therefore, people from lower class society did not have rights in the
Parliament. There are two major groups that existed in that period, Chartism and the
middle class Anti-Corn Laws League. The Chartism was aimed at parliamentary reform, containing six points: annual parliament, universal male suffrage, the
ballot, no property qualifications for the members of Parliament, payment for members and equal electoral districts. The Chartism was existed because of the
grievances of the working class. They were discontent because of bad harvests, industrial unemployment, and high food price that made them hungry.
The second group is the middle class Anti-Corn Laws League. This league was established by the middle class people who disagree with the Corn Law of
1815. The Corn Law was created by the agriculturalists, who were predominant in Parliament, attempted to protect their economy position by raising the prices of
grain and rents. The league aimed to repeal the Corn Laws, by doing so, the league believed that it would manage the problems of guaranteeing the livelihood
of the poor and securing the prosperity of industry The New Encyclopedia Britannica Volume 3, 261-6.
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2.2.2. Economic Condition
Industrial Revolution in the Victorian Era can be translated with the changes in making good from hand labors to substituting machines. The use of
machines is increasing since the steam was invented. This condition forces the changes from the agrarian society into industrial society. The labors did not have
any jobs anymore since the machines can handle their works. Therefore, wages are extremely low because using machines are considered less expensive. The
working hours are also very long, almost fourteen hours a day. The women and the children are also hired. The industrial revolution also makes the cities where
the factories built, becomes slums and crowded. Snyder and Martin say that “The Industrial Revolution which had begun during the later part of the 18
th
century, reached its climax just before Victoria came to throne” 311. The development of
machinery had brought many workers to the starvation because businessmen considered buying machines and building factories more profitable. The
government policy of laissez-faire, or keeping hands off a man’s private business, permitted each businessman to have a law that was created by him to use women
and children as workers and force them to work as hard as they could. At the same time ‘the fencing off, or enclosing on the valid plea of improving agriculture made
the villagers hurt while the land owners happy” Snyder and Martin 311. The whole system was based on money or the cash-nexus. Both
agriculture and industry had become thoroughly dominated. For people who had power, wealth, and position, it was a good opportunity to get richer and richer. On
the other hand, those who were lack of properties, and considered as lower class, PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
18 had no chance to make a better life. Betsky says that the aristocrats or high class
society and middle class society were the people who obtained the benefits from this economic revolution in England.
2.2.3. Social Condition
Generally, there are three social classes that occur in the Victorian Era, namely high class society, middle class society, and lower class or working class
society. Each social class has its own characteristics.
2.2.3.1. High-Class Society
The high class society or the aristocrats was the richest class that had power upon the economic, politic, military, and intellectual policies. This class
had the best houses, food, clothes, education, and entertainment. They went to park or party for entertainment and social activities. Palaces, vast lands, luxurious
carriages, and other properties were their possession. They also had many servants to serve them fully. They were considered as having high social status, and it was
ascribed from family root. Their children went to high quality school built for high class families only. For children who did not go to school, their parents asked
a teacher or a governess to teach them at home McKay, Hill, and Buckler 846. The areas of their jobs in the society were the Church, government, navy or the
army Encyclopedia Britannica Volume 19 949. PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
