Context Flashcards
Who is the author of the novel?
Emily Bronte
What era was the novel written in?
Victorian era
When did this era begin & how old was Bronte at this time?
- 1837
- 15 years old
What are the key characteristics of this time period which may have influenced the novel?
- strong sense of social responsibility (especially towards lower classes)
- strong morals / morality
- strict social codes
What figure had emerged during this period and what did they teach?
Freud - revolutionised beliefs about the individual
How were women expected to behave during this time?
- obedient
- respectable
What happened to women who did not conform to societal norms?
criticised and ostracised by society
How were women treated?
as property - they are owned (as well as everything they have) by their father and then their husband
What was the class divide like during this period?
- social tensions were high
- servants still in use
- superiority complex
How were servants treated/ viewed?
as underlings who are not to speak unless spoken to
What key historical event was actively happening at this time?
industrial revolution
How did the industrial revolution impact social class?
- the working class was introduced
- the middle class expanded
What was the marriage system like?
- only marrying those in the same ranks to ensure ‘purity’ of class
- marrying up or down the social ladder = exile/ scandals
- generational wealth was the main type
How were gypsies viewed?
- inferior
- perceived through the typical Romanticised notions
Why were gypsies often considered abnormal or inferior?
they lived their lives outside of the social construct and societal norms
