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Part Six English Critical Realism英国批判现实主义 social and historical background:社会历史背景 1. 1832 marked the end of romanticism and the beginning of the Victorian Age. (1832-1901) It was remarkable as a landmark in English history. The first reform bill was passed that year. 2. Victorian Age can be divided into 3 parts: 1832 -1848: this was called “the early Victorian Age”, characterized as “the time of troubles”. The first reform bill has several historical significances. It established the archaic election system. It extended the right to vote to all men with some property. This satisfied the demand of the middle class, but not the working class. The lower class didn’t get any profit from the reform bill. The conflict between capitalists and Cabinet classes became major problems. The living and working conditions of the working class were terrible. The passing of the Poor Law (1834) was to establish some workhouses for charity purpose. 1840s was called the hungry 40’s. *Chartist Movement: movement of the working class, workers organizations put forward/ submits their petition to Parliament (1838-48). The petition was rejected and many leaders were put into prison. There appeared writers: Dickens, Thackeray, Bronte sisters and Mrs. Gaskell. 1848-1870 mid-Victorian Age, also called “a time of Prosperity” Political situation was stable both at home and abroad. Free trade brought wealth to the capitalists, flourishing all culture and industry. The living conditions of the workers were improved because of prosperity as well as the passing of social laws. In 1859, Darwin “the Origin of Species” ---great challenges to the doctrines of religion. Queen Victoria and her husband became the models of middle-class family---her devotion (submission, obedience, faith) to her family and her husband. But later was criticised as “Hypercritic”. The conflicts between religion and science was the major conflict. Dickens and Thackeray continued to write: expose the evils of the so