Popular Victorian Bridal Hairstyles.

From the images I have seen of the Victorian era its clear to see that the bridal fashions( gowns,hair) were simply stunning. Very delicate looking. I am looking at Victorian bridal hairstyles as a staring point o Miss Havisham's hair. As in order to create a historically correct piece. I must be able to create a  Victorian bridal hairstyle, that I can then mold to fit into my characters description.

Weddingfashions1862-1912.
Edited by JoAnne Olian.

This  image is interesting to me as it shows that adornment was popular in the hair. Here they have used flowers as a hair band to adorn the hair. In the back mirror the flowers are also used around the bun for adornment. This gives the hair a feminine touch. The hairstyle looks as though its been placed into a low bun. The bun looks as though it has twists in it. The face and hair is also covered by a light veil.

www.royal.gov.uk
Viewed:29.01.14

This is a portrait of Queen Victoria on her wedding day. Again I can see reoccurring elements. Such as the flowers,veil, and the up-do. This is such an elegant,feminine,soft look. The parting seems to be centered. The front pieces are on a low curve. yet are controlled. I looks sleek and shiny. I can take these elements to begin the process of my style and begin to apply my vision of Miss Havisham, which will have similar elements but not looking so delicate and pretty.

Carte de visite' (Visiting cards), for Flora and Julia Bradford
Camille-Leon-Louis Silvy
1860
Paris
Museum no. E.1027-1992

Again the hairstyle is in a middle parting.Looking sleek and smooth. In the mirror again I can see the hair is in some sort of low bun. I find this image to be interesting as it is a photograph. Photographs could not of been tweaked in the Victorian era. Unlike paintings and illustrations.

Key words to describe hair.

Pip.

When I think of the character Pip from Great Expectations I think of the word passionate to describe him. Pip is passionate about many things. Estella,becoming a gentleman, and transformation.

www.passion-for-fashion.tumblr.com

In terms of hair I imagine this hairstyle to describe the word passionate. As its a soft, messy sort of style. That implies that you have had to of tried something in order to get this style slightly messy. You can tell that the hair also began as a neat hair style. The hair looks as if it tells a story of trials.

Estella.

I chose the word cruel to describe Estella. As she acts very cold hearted towards Pip but we later learn this is due to how she has been taught to behave. Cruel looking hair would have a striking look.

www.hair.becomegorgeous.com.

Which is why I chose this hair style, as it creates a mysterious, cruel look to me. As the straight hair looks sharp, and the curves at the bottom could represent her raising men's hopes, as if she has them wrapped around her little finger. I also love the colour as it's could symbolism red for danger.

Miss Havisham.

For Miss Havisham I used the word eccentric to describe her hair. As the way she lives is just crazy. This is also communicated through her hair. Her hair would've started off neat and up with curls. But then over the years the hair has grown. Considering the living conditions I am guessing she may have had some sort of head lice causing her to scratch her head.  This hair is big, has a once tamed structure. The color is faded much like her and almost a moldy colour. Like how Pip described the house is sort of how her hair looks to me.

The Victorian Gothic era.

The Victorian era was the era of Queen Victoria who reigned from 1837-190. It was a period of  prosperity, refined sensibilities and national self-confidence for Britain.

Victorian  Gothic culture.

Gothic style architecture was exceedingly important in this era. As it was a new look that originated from the Romanesque architecture and continued onto Renaissance architecture. The architecture is mainly in buildings of great importance like Cathedrals,castles and churches. Places that hold connotations of wealth and in some cases religion. The pointed arcs, ribbed vault and flying buttress are some of the prominent characteristics. The Gothic look caused a style battle against the opposing the classical look that the was known for a long period of time. 

The Victorian era became very fond of Gothic genre. This shows through the rising number of texts written using Gothic characteristics in this era. Legendary books Emily Bronte Wuthering Heights is known as a Victorian Gothic novel. Charles Dickens was also well known for writing Gothic pieces such as Bleak House, A Tale Of Two Cities, and of course Great Expectations. These books were filled with a gloomy, dark, mysterious atmosphere, and memorable characters.

Death.

I have found myself questioning why was Gothic so popular in this era more so than others that we know of. Was it the fear of the unknown? Or did they have more freedom in thought,speech and actions regarding religion? Questioning what happens to not only our outer body but what happens to us as in spirit. Maybe hey wanted to prove there is life after death .Considering the life expectancy was so short and death was so common it made the Victorian generation obsessed with death. 

Due to the living conditions and lack of medicine knowledge the Victorians had a short life span. Hospitals were not a safe and hygienic place to die as they were full of infections. Therefore many families took care of their siblings in their homes. Watching your loved ones die must of been a painful process that possibly could of made getting over their death more difficult to get over.

 This would of somewhat effected them physiologically watching a person die. This could be where the obsession of death came from possibly the fear of death and death could be waiting just around the corner. So the more you investigate a subject the more you learn about how to improve it in some cases. Possibly suggesting to me that they could of thought that if they knew more about death then they could prevent it from happening making them obsess over it.

Victorians were terrified of being buried alive as sometimes after a persons stopped beating they would come back to life. What they would do is wait for the body to decay a bit to make sure that they were dead. I found this intriguing and terrifying! It would be interesting to see the stages of death and how it changes our appearance.

Influence of this interest could of come from their Majesty (Queen Victoria). After her husband Prince Albert (42) died. It was said that Queen Victoria wore black everyday after his death. Possibly symbolism for mourning. Victoria had her servants lay out his clothing everyday as if he was still alive. This could of been the way she dealt with her mourning. I found this so interesting and relevant to my character building of Miss Havisham although her ex lover who broke her heart was not dead; she was mourning for him as if he was.

Women were also expected to wear black for two years after a family death. This is interesting as to why women wore black a lot in this era also helps explain some Gothic characters (The woman in black), other than the fact that black creates darker shadows and stronger silhouettes, it symbolizes death, being sinful and it just looks creepy. They were also encouraged to isolate themselves and not take part in festivities much like Miss Havisham. 

Link:http://www.tchevalier.com/fallingangels/bckgrnd/mourning/
Viewed:23.01.14

I found this advertisement to be particularly interesting as it states almost like the rules of mourning for women encouraging them not to move on. Which to me is relevant to the brief as it helps me see why Miss Havisham stays in her gown as yes she is mourning in a sense. But she is grieving in the opposing colour creating a juxtaposition white and black; good vs evil. White is associated with innocence and black with sinners. However Miss Havishams dress is decaying possibly away with her innocence as she manipulates and molds her adopted daughter into being a heartless woman. Whereas in our society we are encouraged to move on but not forget. It also shows how patriarchal society was.

The Paranormal.

In a lot of Victorian Gothic pieces there is some sort of paranormal activity. Objects moving by themselves, a mysterious gust of cold air in  a heated room, or just the feeling that someone who is not present physically is there always watching. 

In the Victorian age to accept that someone has just gone in body,mind and soul was just too much for them to take even after a long period of time; therefore they performed spiritualism. Spiritualism was an act formed to communicate with the dead. This was performed by some religions. But caused controversy in others it was seen as witchcraft. 

I used this article to help source my information Berkeley Article on Victorian Obsession with Death

5 Victorian images.

This image to me holds connotations of the term Gothic. The setting looks to me suitably dark, and gloomy. The window in the background the curve of the window the thick frame and the elaborate pattern all look `religious` in my eyes it reminds me of something you would see at a church or perhaps a castle.The book shelf has skulls on top of it suggesting a mystery that perhaps someone has died. A God like looking man is laying on a skeleton again implying death possibly? The man at the door looks as though he is scared possibly evoking high overwrought emotion.

Blogcasebook.org/therainhammystery-1887.com
viewed:19.01.14

This is a Victorian animation of The Rainham case. This was where murders had obviously gone on and the bodies would get washed up among the Thames. I find the image within its self to be Gothic. The setting looks dark and gloomy. The misty river. The two prime men investigating the body as if it's a huge mystery I find this image intriguing as it was a mystery that was never sold the Thames is full of untold secrets.

Photograph of Amelia Dyer Entry to Asslyum1893.

This image to me is intensely striking. The darkness in the background. It almost looks as if there is smoke in the background suggesting to me a ghostly presence. This women eyes look soulless. Her prominent wrinkles suggesting her age. Her bow suggesting to me she was perhaps middle class with the adornment on her head too.She looks as though she could be a Gothic character holding secrets or lovers apart. She looks like a ghost to me, or someone people would be scared of, like a creature/monster of the night, wondering the streets.

 This woman is Amelia Dyer a Victorian Baby Murderer.

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This is an image of  an Victorian school in Chester. The building looks very dark and atmospheric. I can imagine walking through there it being in complete darkness the only light would be from one flickering candle. Then the candle would miraculously blow out, and you bump into something unknown; you'd start to panic. As if someone was watching you. That is the sort of mood I get from looking at this building. It looks as if you could get trapped in it. The high ceilings, stone cold walls. elaborate architecture. The stained glass suggesting religion or paranormal. Looks extremely Gothic to me as if someone or somethings hiding. It looks as though it would have a cellar which is quite mysterious.

Writtenbeforedawn.blogspot.com
Viewed.19.01.14

To me this woman looks like the typical Damsel in distress type of character. Just by her helpless sort of body language. The way she is leaning against the wall paper. Her clothing reminds me of the term Gothic. Firstly I shall state the obvious it's black furthermore suggesting death, having a dark side, impurity, evil. The high neck reminds me of a modern day Gothic fashions. The lace framing her chest . the corset which creates a leaner silhouette, creating a womanly shadow. She looks as though she is part of the Bourgeoisie which may imply that she could have en chasing after her. Or high demanding men who have a lot of power trying to make her decisions for her which again adds a romance element within the Gothic genre.

Gothic elements in Great Expectations.

Great Expectations (Charles Dickens) has many Gothic elements to the story. These Gothic elements lay within the setting. The dark gloomy, misty weather creating a ambiance of mystery; the unknown as you cannot see clearly!  Satis house is a very Gothic setting with the darkness and ghostly, cold atmospheric mansion.

Inside the mansion lives a Gothic figure in her decaying white ghostly gown, surrounded by flickering candles. A woman who is mentally unstable who lives in the darkness and cannot bare to see the blazing sunlight. Which reminds me very much of a  classic vampire; except in return she wants no blood, but men's hearts (not literally).

Another character which I find to be mysterious is Jaggers maid Molly. Her slit wrists are a mystery, and leave a gory image in your head. She plays a significant part in the text and helps solve one of the unkown mystery's.

There is almost a coincidence in events that occur. The events that take place such as Pip discovering that Magwitch is the reason why he is a gentleman; they all piece together like puzzle as if its solving a mystery.

I consider the males in the text to be overbearing. Especially Drummle he is extremely rude and thinks that his significant amount of wealth can justify his cruel behavior. Jaggers is also an overbearing character who is extremely powerful as  a lawyer to criminals. He is not considered a clean lawyer which could be possibly why he constantly washes his hands to make him feel purer? The males seem to have tempers possibly to do  with their egos.

Introduction.

 Great Expectations.

When I was first told to read the classic novel `Great Expectations` (Charles Dickens). I did not have any interesting thoughts about it all I thought was oh it's that book about the wedding woman. Then I saw the mammoth sized book then laid before me I wanted to cry. When I started reading it I rather enjoyed how Dickens did not let one detail slip. He introduced the characters in such an interesting manner such as Mag witch threatening a child. However after a few chapters I found the book t be quite slow. To me the book would go through stages where it would be extremely interesting, then the interest would drop then rise again; so it that sense it was not an easy read; as I am used to there being constant action in books.Reading the book certain themes struck me such as Pip's ambition to transform himself into a gentleman as he naively thought that would make him a better person to be of a high social class. Social class is a significant theme within the book. Crime was a reoccurring theme with Magwitch appearing again in the book, we later discover hi innocence which I suppose is a theme in the book innocence especially as the book includes children a symbol of innocence. Guilt is also a theme as Pip cannot get over the day when he helped a criminal. I have seen the first part of the television series of Great Expectations in class. It was extremely different to the book not only did they miss a fair bit of the book out; but the characters are portrayed different in comparison to the book! When I read the book I imagine Estella to be this porcelain, brunette beauty in the TV series I do not see it. Miss Havisham is very ghostly, dewy and mysterious looking; whereas Pip describes her as looking dead.I really liked the way `Gillian Andersons` portrayed Miss Havisham, she seemed gentle, kind;she ha this radiance that I warmed to. Yet she seemed to be mad and anxious with her nervous tick of scratching; which is something that Dickens wold not of picked up on as physically was not spoken of as openly as it is today. 

I am excited yet nervous to start this brief. I am going to research extremely hard to get a clear understanding of Gothic.