There are two main traditions of English writing: the one…
““There are two main traditions of English writing: the one of perfect liberty, that of Chaucer and Shakespeare, completely outspoken, with a certain liking for lascivious details and witty smut, a man’s speech; the other emasculated more and more by Puritanism and since the French Revolution, gelded to tamest propriety; for that upheaval brought the illiterate middle-class to power and insured the domination of girl readers. Under Victoria, English prose literally became half childish, as in stories of «Little Mary,» or at best provincial, as anyone may see who cares to compare the influence of Dickens, Thackeray and Reade in the world with the influence of Balzac, Flaubert and Zola.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The quote contrasts two literary traditions: one free, bawdy, and rooted in early English speech; the other restrained, shaped by Puritanism and middle‑class tastes, leading to a childish, provincial prose under Victorian influence.
In simple terms: Two opposing English writing styles: wild and censored
Key Takeaway
Recognize how cultural forces shape literature.
Themes
literature
culture
history
class
gender
Mood
critical
reflective
Type
analytical
historical
When to use this quote
- studying Victorian novels
- teaching comparative literature
- analyzing class influence on writing
- exploring gendered readership
- examining censorship trends
Key Concepts
censorship
social change
literary evolution
Questions to Reflect On
- How did Victorian authors resist propriety?
- What role did women readers play in shaping literature?
A Different Perspective
The claim overgeneralizes and ignores many nuanced works of the era.