Underneath the Illusions of Progress: Gender-Based Violence the Darkest Truth of Victorian Realism

Gender-based violence (GBV) has been a pervasive issue for a long time and is closely tied to societal structures. To understand its historical roots and cultural manifestations, an intersectional and interdisciplinary approach is necessary. Victorian literature provides a crucial lens to examine the portrayal of GBV and its connection to the socio-cultural dynamics of the 19th century. This paper investigates how prominent Victorian authors such as Charles Dickens and George Eliot represented GBV in their works, analysing themes of patriarchy, social injustice, and the subjugation of women. Novels like Oliver Twist and Middlemarch delve into the depiction of domestic abuse, economic coercion, and the limitations placed on women’s autonomy as prevalent forms of GBV during the Victorian era. Through a lens of realism, Dickens and Eliot used their storytelling to critique the systematic oppression of women and to expose the intersection between gender, class, and power dynamics. Their narratives not only portrayed the harsh realities faced by marginalised women but also offered subtle calls for reform by highlighting the human cost of entrenched societal inequities. This interdisciplinary exploration contributes to a broader understanding of how literature can serve as a platform for both documenting social realities and promoting critical discourse around Gender Based Violence.

Keywords: Victorian Literature, Gender-Based Violence, Realism, Charles Dickens, George Eliot