Study On “Sickrooms” In Victorian Novels From The Perspective Of Literary Sociology

Victorian Age witnessed the formation of many new ideas in society at that time as well as the merits and demerits of the Industrial Revolution.This period of time was proved to be one of the most significant time in English history and literature.It is also the time of novels and novel becomes the medium most suited to reflect the real Victorian life in an increasingly urbanized and industrial society.The problem lies in ascertaining what kind of society,exactly,is “expressed” by Victorian novels,and what its implications are.Literary sociology is an interdisciplinary study that concentrates on the interrelationship between literature and society.It studies the influence and reflection of society on literature,and the functions and effects of literature in society.It holds the idea that society creates literature,and literature reflects society.Sickroom as a small space in the literary works has its own specific effects and functions on reflecting social conditions and the people in society.According to the decorations and atmosphere of the sickrooms,as well as the states of the people in the sickrooms and their attitudes towards others,some social problems and ideas of that time can be viewed.This thesis conducts a study on different sickrooms and different social problems and ideas related to and reflected on these sickrooms.Chapter one,subtitled as‘Calling for Childness',examines the sickrooms of different ages.Sickrooms of children show their mental states and harsh growing environment as the poor Victorian children,especially the orphans and child labor of that age.Sickrooms are the heaven for them in which they can get more love and care.Even though they grow up in that crucial environment,they remain their eagerness for childness.Sickrooms of adults show the changing humanity of people that influenced by the industrial profits-oriented society.Money and social status changed their original value on morality and affection between family members and friends.They have become slaves of the money they unduly admired.There is a progress of ‘returning tochildness' in adults' sickroom,as it is an obvious comparison with the children.The social relationship between people,as well as the idea of individualism and ‘self-help'in Victorian society is also mentioned in this part.Chapter two,subtitled as ‘Herstory',is about sickrooms of different genders.Sickrooms of the females studies the woman problem in Victorian society.Woman in Victorian society is always interior to man.The idea of ‘death in life' and prostitution is highlighted in this part as the plight of woman are mainly caused by the man in their life.The part of man's sickroom is a reflection part of the former one.It indirectly reveals the changing social status and role of the female and its influence on man.Victorian feminism is also deeply involved in and plays a significant role on literature and society.Chapter three,subtitled as ‘Between the Good and the Evil',focuses on sickrooms of middle class and working class.By depiction of the sickroom,the state of the patient,and their attitude towards people around them,the selfish and greedy personality and distorted values of Victorians in middle class on money and life can be depicted.Egoism as a common concept in Victorian society,is shown deeply in Victorian literature.The advantages and disadvantages of Industrial society will be extended.The last part,sickrooms of working class,concentrates on the purity and kindness of Victorian working class.They are poor materially,but rich mentally in that money-oriented Victorian society and form apparent differences from the middle class.The contribution of working class to society will be analyzed.In conclusion,it is illustrated that sickrooms of different people in literature are worthy of being concentrated from the perspectives of literary sociology.It studies the sickrooms in literature and aims to criticize social reality as Victorian society,to some degree,is a big sickroom.This combination of close reading and literary sociology may allow readers to find an interrelationship between specific literary works and its society and history,and enhance their understanding about that glorious but controversial age.