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Victorian Life and the Novel The Victorian era (1832- 1901) extended during the reign of Queen Victoria in the United Kingdom and signifies a period of dramatic change, particularly in England, marked by rapid expanse of colonialism, industrialization and scientific and technological advancements. The British kingdom reached its acme during the Victorian Age, covering about a fourth of the world’s earth. The middle class advanced economically and socially with the expanse of trade and industry, however, despite great social and economic advancements, the farmers and factory laborers lived in absolute and abject poverty. The development of new scientific theories such as the Theory of Evolution challenged the religious beliefs of the times and the traditional values were no longer considered effective in guiding human lives. The economic and social realities of the period deeply influenced the writings and contents of literature of the Victorian era. The prosperity of the upper and middle classes, the importance of money and morals, the wretched condition of the poor the loss of faith on traditional values and the status of women in society were the most common themes adopted by Victorian writers. The books The Warden, The Picture of Dorian Gray, North and South, and Wuthering Heights use realism to expose the realities of Victorian society. The Warden by Anthony Trollope deals with the disputation over the distribution of money provided by John Hiram's will to Septimus Harding, a clergyman of great personal integrity, privileged to disburse the charity. The money brings difficulty: “Murmurs…had been heard…that the proceeds of John Hiram’s property had not been fairly divided” (Trollope 4). The work of fiction highlights the Victorian stance on money and wealth, nevertheless placing heroism and morals above wealth acquisition and money. The perspective of each character on money reveals the Victorian attitude towards money and morals. Septimus Harding values money , but is only decently concerned with it and willing to do away with his stipend, though difficult to bear at his age and holds on to his morals. John Bold, “a young surgeon” and reformer of sorts exposes what he regards as a misuse of privilege, even though he is in love with Mr. Harding's daughter Eleanor (Trollope 9). The archdeacon’s faith in the precepts of the Church is essentially characterized by his absolute faith in the justice of its financial affairs. The novel exposes the prevailing sentiments and concerns regarding money matters in the Victorian period. George Landow states in “The Reality of Victorianism”, “there was...unblinking worship of independence and hard cash; belief in institutions...overwhelming self confidence...And, at the core, was the same tiny abscess the nagging guilt as to the inherent contradiction between morality and the system” (Landow 2001).