Aristocratic Fashion And Politics Writing In Silver Fork Novels

The Silver Fork Novels were mainly popular in Britain from 1820 s to 1840 s,which is called the Reform era in British history.The faithful description of the aristocratic fashion life is the most prominent feature of the Silver Fork Novel,which makes it an important carrier to reveal the relationship between the English aristocratic fashion life and politics in this period.In this period,politics permeates into British aristocracy's educational,recreational and etiquette life.During this time,in terms of educational fashion,the noble education system mainly focuses on classical literature and gentlemen education,and its principal purpose is to cultivate the noble political elite.Therefore,the reform lead by aristocracy in this period inevitably reflects the conservative tendency in British politics.In regard to recreational fashion,the various recreational modes and the deep purposes behind these activities of the aristocracy reveal the Exclusivism in the aristocratic political life in the British Regency.As for fashion in etiquette,the dressing etiquette and dietary etiquette of British nobles are largely influenced by the relationship between Britain and France.After the outbreak of Napoleonic Wars,the British aristocracy abandons the French clothing fashion.At the same time,with the growth of the British bourgeoisie,their concept also affects the aristocratic dressing etiquette.However,with the end of the war,social peace in the two countries triggers a new dietary fashion in the aristocratic class.These unique fashion life shapes the image of British aristocracy and forms the unique aristocracy era in this period.But at the same time,with the growth of the bourgeoisie,the declining educational advantages of the aristocracy,and the bourgeoisie's imitation of the entertainment life of the upper class,which make the aristocracy lose its unique status.With the development of democratic movement at home and abroad,aristocrats must carry out a series of political reforms and give up their privileges.The crisis of British aristocrats is inevitable.At the same time,the Silver Fork Novel has a profound connection with the Novel of Manners and Victorian realism literature in the early 19 th century,because it inherits the writing mode of Jane Austen's Novel of Manners and influences the satirical literature of Thackeray and Dickens.In a word,the Silver Fork Novel provides a further understanding of the relationship between the fashion life and politics of the British aristocracy in the early 19 th century,as well as literature and culture.