They reflect the Victorian era through the social classes depicted. The clear divide between the rich and the poor was very much a part of that time. Also, the traditional Christmas customs described in the stories were characteristic of the Victorian Christmas.
The stories often show the traditional family values of the Victorian era. There are strict family hierarchies and proper manners that are adhered to. For example, children are expected to be respectful to their elders.
In the 'Charles Dickens Collection of Short Stories', Dickens depicts the working class's hardships. He also shows the moral decay among the rich and the need for social reform through his complex characters and their situations.
It reflects the Victorian era through its settings. The use of decaying mansions and dark alleys in the city reflects the contrast between the wealthy and the poor in Victorian society. Also, the fog - covered landscapes were a common feature of Victorian cities, which added to the sense of mystery in the Gothic fiction.
These love stories also showed the role of women in society. Women in Victorian love stories were usually expected to be demure and proper. Their love was often influenced by the need to find a suitable husband for financial and social stability. For instance, in many novels, a woman's marriage was seen as a way to secure her family's future or her own social standing. This was clearly seen in the way female characters made decisions regarding love.
The stories reflected the value of propriety. People were expected to act in a certain way, and any deviation in sexual matters was frowned upon. So, in Victorian sex stories, characters were often shown either conforming to these standards or facing the negative consequences of not doing so. This was a way to reinforce the values of the society at that time.
Victorian era historical fiction was a mirror of the society's values and anxieties. The emphasis on propriety and respectability was a common theme. In 'The Picture of Dorian Gray', Wilde explored the hidden vices beneath the veneer of Victorian respectability. The family structure was also a big part of it. Many stories had a focus on family relationships, inheritance, and the impact of family reputation on individuals, as seen in various Dickens novels.
The names of the parents in 'A Christmas Story' do a great job of reflecting the era. 'The Old Man' as the father's name has a kind of old - fashioned, no - nonsense feel to it. It shows that in that era, fathers were seen as the authority figures in the family. They were the ones who worked and dealt with the more practical aspects of home life, like fixing things around the house. 'Mother' is a very basic but also very representative name for the mother. It shows her role as the heart of the home, the one who took care of the kids, cooked, and made the house a warm and inviting place for Christmas. The names are simple yet very effective in painting a picture of family life during the time the story was set.
The Victorian era influenced Victorian ghost stories in terms of their themes. The strict social norms led to themes like guilt and punishment in these stories. In other English ghost stories, the themes can be more diverse. For example, modern English ghost stories might be about urban legends. Victorian ghost stories also had a certain aesthetic due to the era's architecture and fashion. This is different from other English ghost stories which can be set in different time - period aesthetics.
Many Christmas stories reflect the Christmas spirit through acts of giving. For example, in traditional Christmas tales, characters often give gifts without expecting anything in return. This represents the idea of selfless giving that is central to Christmas.
It reflects through its atmosphere. The Victorian era gothic novels were known for their gloomy and mysterious settings, and 'Varney the Vampire' is full of such. Dark castles, misty graveyards are common in the story. Also, the sense of the unknown and the supernatural is strong. Varney himself represents the unknown and terrifying aspect of the supernatural that was a staple in these novels.