LITERARY REFLECTIONS OF SOCIAL CHANGE IN VICTORIAN FICTION

Abstract

Victorian fiction serves as a compelling lens through which social change during the 19th century can be analyzed. This period, marked by the Industrial Revolution, urbanization, and evolving social norms, witnessed a literary response that captured the tensions and transformations of the era. Victorian authors such as Charles Dickens, Elizabeth Gaskell, and Thomas Hardy explored themes of class disparity, gender roles, industrialization, and moral ambiguity. Their works not only reflected societal challenges but also provided critical commentary on the inequities and struggles of their time. Through narratives blending realism and moral questioning, Victorian fiction illuminated the human impact of rapid societal shifts, offering readers both a critique and an empathetic understanding of these changes. By examining the intersection of literature and societal evolution, this study underscores how Victorian fiction functioned as both a mirror and an agent of social consciousness.