The image of the nineteenth century as a period of great opportunity for men of energy and skill is one that has been long established. Britain saw significant changes in politics, economy, and society throughout this era. The emergence of the middle class, sometimes known as the bourgeoisie, was one of the most important changes of this time. The goal of the bourgeoisie was to exert power and direct social change through their participation in social movements, charitable organizations, and municipal government. Historians have argued that an industrious middle-class made great fortunes in the early days of the industrial revolution and converted economic success into political power in the form of Reform Act 1832 that used to ensure policy reflected the middle-class interests. The fostered sophisticated tastes in music, literature, and the arts, which aided in the thriving Victorian cultural scene. As a reflection of civic duty and social obligation, philanthropy and charity initiatives were also essential to middle-class identity. Charles Dickens’s David Copperfield and Great Expectations, as well as George Eliot’s Middlemarch and Daniel Deronda offer important perspectives on the intricate social dynamics and transformations. By highlighting their internal struggles and external influences, Eliot provided complex portraits of the middle class. The profundity of the bourgeois experience, both intellectually and emotionally, is reflected in her works. Examining the perspectives in these specific works helps us understand more about the opportunities, challenges, and contradictions associated with the rise of the middle class and the enduring legacy of the Victorian era.
Research Scholar, Department of English, Patliputra University, Patna
