Comparing Christina Rosettis Approach to the Subject of...

Comparing Christina Rosettis Approach to the Subject of Death in After Death, Remember, Song and Dream Death was a favourite theme of the Victorian writers. Before antibiotics and a National Health Service it was common to die early in life from common illnesses such as tuberculosis and during childbirth. 50% of children died before the age of six in Hanworth, the Bronte sisters village. The Victorians held expensive funerals that were showy and intrigued by the processes of decay, change and growth. Themes such as these are explored in novels such as Dracula and Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. Many Victorians believed in life after death and also hoped for this. In 1851 a religious census found out†¦show more content†¦These were poorly paid jobs. All girls were barred from sitting public examinations until 1863, and even then The Lancet (the professional journal if doctors) proclaimed: Higher Education will produce flat chested women unable to suckle their babies. In the Victorian period only one in four women married as a huge number of women lived on the streets, begging and pr ostituting themselves. Because of this male Victorian writers had two conflicting images of women. One was the pure, dutiful helpmate and the other was the exciting but dangerous sex object. As time passed on the lives of some women changed due to growth of industry, as this created jobs for them. These jobs were difficult and also poorly paid, but they gave women a taste of life outside of the home. Victorian writers began to explore the real lives of working women, but it wasnt until the end of the Victorian period that womans rights began to develop. In the Victorian society motherhood was greatly admired. A mothers love was considered very important for children as the ideal woman dedicated her life to her family. A lot of women died during childbirth as it was a hazard in reality, sometimes because complications in the delivery but mostly because of puerperal fever. This is an infection we can now avoid by antibiotics. There was no effective contraception in the Victorian period; due to this