The Diary of a Nobody, the object of the examination of this work, is a fictitious story of a clerk living in London in the 1880’s, written by George Grossmith. It is the record of fifteen months in the life of Mr. Charles Pooter presented in a form of a diary. Every entry of the dairy is packed with details of trivial moments of his life and as the reviewer for The New York Times wrote, the book consists of “the small triumphs and minor humiliations and homely pleasures of everyday life as lived in a lower-middle-class household in the late Victorian era.”
The representation of the English lower middle class as either devoid of heroism or pathetic is unfortunate but not entirely surprising. Indeed these two characteristics are rather famously combined in the figure of the eponymous Mr. Pooter, master of The Laurels, Brickfield Terrace, Holloway. As Hosgood claims: “George and Weedon Grossmith The Diary of a Nobody has rightly become one of the minor classics of Victorian fiction, and no historian can avoid the comic glow it casts over any interpretation of suburban life.”
Whether one has studied the Victorian age at school or not, he or she must have some knowledge of it. School studies tend to focus either on the political activities of such persona as Disraeli and Gladstone, with addition of the failure of the Chartists, and rarely extend beyond 1885. Sometimes schools provide bored learners with in-depth analysis of the factory system horrors and the inadequacies of public health and hygiene.
Moreover, among some adults, Victorianism is synonymous with the exploitation of the working class and the evils (or, increasingly of late, the absurdities) of Imperialism. Others see it mainly as a period of religious hypocrisy and cruelty to children. According to Mitchell:
Many of us have vivid mental pictures of Victorian England: a Charles Dickens Christmas with a large, happy family surrounding a table crammed with food; the dark and terrifying slums in other Dickens novels; Sherlock Holmes in London by gaslight; timeless country estates where laborers nodded in deference to the squire while ladies paid social calls and talked about marriage. In addition, “Victorianism” remains a living concept in social and political debates, although its meanings are contradictory: it is used to describe exploitation and class division, sexual repression, hypocrisy, values of hard work and self-help, moral certain¬ties about family life, and a [...]
Table of Contents
- Chapter One: Introduction
- Chapter Two: The Most and Less Important Victorian Inventions and Their Influence on Everyday Life of People
- Chapter Three: Feminist Perspective of Victorian Era
Objectives and Key Themes
This work aims to analyze George Grossmith's The Diary of a Nobody as a valuable document of social history, focusing on the depiction of the English lower middle class in the late Victorian era. It achieves this by examining the seemingly trivial details within the diary entries to reveal broader social and cultural trends.
- Depiction of the English lower middle class in late Victorian society.
- The impact of Victorian inventions on daily life.
- The role and perception of women in Victorian England.
- Social class structure and its relevance to the Pooter family.
- Use of “cultural signifiers” to reveal societal aspects.
Chapter Summaries
Chapter One: Introduction: This chapter sets the stage by providing context for understanding The Diary of a Nobody within the broader context of Victorian England. It explores the common misrepresentations of the lower middle class as either pathetic or devoid of heroism, contrasting this with the portrayal in Grossmith's work. The chapter examines the prevailing views and interpretations of the Victorian era, highlighting the complexities and contradictions present in historical perceptions. It then delves into the social and economic realities of Victorian England, particularly focusing on the disparity between the wealthy and the poor, and the urbanization transforming the country. Finally, the chapter introduces the Grossmith brothers, the authors of the diary, providing a brief biography relevant to understanding their perspective and the book's creation.
Chapter Two: The Most and Less Important Victorian Inventions and Their Influence on Everyday Life of People: This chapter focuses on the impact of technological advancements during the Victorian era on the daily lives of its inhabitants. It highlights the transformative effects of inventions such as the railway system, gas lighting, and the bicycle. The chapter examines how these inventions, both major and minor, reshaped society, influencing aspects of daily life, travel, communication, and leisure activities. The analysis likely explores the ways in which these technological changes intersected with other social and economic transformations of the time, potentially drawing connections to the experiences of the Pooter family as portrayed in the diary.
Chapter Three: Feminist Perspective of Victorian Era: This chapter explores the experiences and perceptions of women during the Victorian era, examining how their roles and societal standing were shaped by the period’s industrial and social transformations. It analyzes the prevailing expectations and limitations placed upon women, focusing on their roles as wives and mothers within the domestic sphere. The chapter likely discusses legal and social changes affecting women during this period, while also exploring the ways in which women navigated and challenged these expectations. The analysis might contrast the idealized image of Victorian womanhood with the realities experienced by women across different social classes, potentially drawing parallels to the portrayal of female characters in The Diary of a Nobody.
Keywords
Victorian Era, lower middle class, social history, The Diary of a Nobody, George Grossmith, cultural signifiers, inventions, women's roles, social class, urbanization.
Frequently Asked Questions: A Comprehensive Language Preview of *The Diary of a Nobody*
What is this document?
This is a comprehensive language preview providing an overview of a work analyzing George Grossmith's *The Diary of a Nobody* as a social history document. It includes the table of contents, objectives and key themes, chapter summaries, and keywords.
What are the main objectives of the work analyzed in this preview?
The main objective is to analyze *The Diary of a Nobody* to understand the depiction of the English lower middle class in the late Victorian era. This involves examining seemingly trivial details to reveal broader social and cultural trends.
What are the key themes explored in the analysis?
Key themes include the depiction of the English lower middle class, the impact of Victorian inventions on daily life, the role and perception of women in Victorian England, social class structure, and the use of "cultural signifiers" to reveal societal aspects.
What is covered in Chapter One: Introduction?
Chapter One provides context for understanding *The Diary of a Nobody* within Victorian England. It addresses common misrepresentations of the lower middle class, explores prevailing views of the Victorian era, examines social and economic realities (especially class disparity and urbanization), and introduces the Grossmith brothers.
What is covered in Chapter Two: The Most and Less Important Victorian Inventions and Their Influence on Everyday Life of People?
Chapter Two focuses on the impact of Victorian inventions (like railways, gas lighting, and bicycles) on daily life. It examines how these inventions reshaped society, influencing daily life, travel, communication, and leisure, potentially connecting them to the experiences of the Pooter family.
What is covered in Chapter Three: Feminist Perspective of Victorian Era?
Chapter Three explores the experiences and perceptions of women during the Victorian era, examining their roles, societal standing, limitations, and how they navigated and challenged societal expectations. It aims to contrast idealized images of Victorian womanhood with the realities.
What are the keywords associated with this analysis?
Keywords include: Victorian Era, lower middle class, social history, *The Diary of a Nobody*, George Grossmith, cultural signifiers, inventions, women's roles, social class, urbanization.
What type of audience is this preview intended for?
This preview is intended for an academic audience interested in Victorian social history, particularly the depiction of the lower middle class in George Grossmith's *The Diary of a Nobody*.
What is the overall purpose of this preview?
The purpose is to provide a concise and structured overview of the main arguments, themes, and findings of the scholarly work on *The Diary of a Nobody*, facilitating understanding and encouraging further engagement with the topic.
- Quote paper
- Marta Zapała (Author), 2009, Mr. Pooter and Victorians, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/159067
