In the history of British literature, the 19th century is called “The Era of Novel”, the heyday of print media because it was right before the development of various methods in media. During this period, the number of publication of newspapers and...
In the history of British literature, the 19th century is called “The Era of Novel”, the heyday of print media because it was right before the development of various methods in media. During this period, the number of publication of newspapers and periodicals was increased, and novels also had begun to lead the reading culture, blooming as a genre of literature.
The purpose of following study is to examine the represented reading culture in 19th century British novels by gender and social class, and to find its meaning. The scope of the study is limited to Jane Austen’s ‘Sense and Sensibility’, ‘Pride and Prejudice’, ‘Northanger Abbey’, ‘Mansfield Park’, ‘Persuasion’, Charlotte Bronte’s ‘Jane Eyre’, George Eliot’s ‘The Mill on the Floss’, Charles Dickens’s ‘Great Expectations’ and Thomas Hardy’s ‘Jude the Obscure’.
This study presents the following research questions with respect to British novels in 19th Century:
1. How is reading culture reproduced by gender and what does it mean?
2. How is reading culture reproduced by social class and what does it mean?
The findings from this study are as follows:
First, male characters in novels read books aloud as an act of sociality. Reflecting the popularity of newspapers in those historical days, it was common for male characters acting to read newspapers. On the other hand, very few female characters were found reading newspapers.
Second, despite the negative discourse about novels, female characters were seen as reading books in silence. The book rental shop that had led the publishing market was often mentioned by female characters in several works by Jane Austin.
Third, for the upper-middle class family, reading was meant to be the measure of culture, taste and leisure activities. Women were also encouraged to develop intelligence through extensive reading. As both men and women enjoyed reading books, readers were also divided into different types; a type of reading books to show off or escape reality, a type that reads books with no self-view, a type of enthusiastic and devoted reader, and a type that conveys the joy to others about reading.
Fourth, the lower-middle class family tended to be left out of the opportunity to read compared to the upper-middle class family. While the women from lower-middle class were especially influenced by negative discourse about reading, male characters, regardless of social class, read books for the purpose of raising their status as gentlemen, scholars, and priests.
The results of the study led to the following conclusions:
First, men read newspapers in silence to keep the public domain information under their control, and through reading aloud they delivered their values to women. On the other hand, women who were reading books in silence recognized provincialism in men’s records; values, customs, men’s own history and started to question them.
Second, reading behavior reproduced by novels showed a greater difference in social class than gender. While the upper-middle class family enjoyed reading to be cultured, the lower-middle class family did not even have the conditions to start reading: It was difficult for them to master letters, to find books, and to make time for reading. There was also no connection to help improve the poor reading environment.
Lastly, it is expected there will be a series of studies that will take a closer look at the various reading practices in novels. This is because it is valuable as a microscopic reference of reading history. For example, further studies are required on how the meaning of the reading changes according to the reading methods of characters. Also, if one can study the recitation of characters in 19th century novels and reproduce it today, this would be the most direct way to enjoy the reading culture of the day.