Alcoholism in the Victorian era.

Alcohol became tremendously popular in the Victorian age. Gin was the popular choice of drink among the working class. Brandy and wine was the ultimate choice of alcohol among the middle and upper classes. Alcoholism was so bad that the parliament had to get involved to try and ban cheap gin from being produced. Although it was only the working class who drank Gin. It was the working class who were seen drinking, and socializing in pubs whereas the higher classes, would be a lot more private about the matter. Making the working class citizens look as though they make a negative impact on society.Although there seemed to be a clear explanation for the working class. Economically times were not good, they made little money to buy food and other resources. the benefits of alcohol are it makes you feel careless. It also was known to distract the body fro hunger pains. The parliament increased the poor wages to encourage them to buy more necessities such as food, and clothes, this only lead to them consuming more alcohol. Alcohol was also said to make men violent again another stereotype of being working class.(Kevin Swarfford (2007). Class in Late-Victorian Britain.. londn: Cambria Press. 63-176.)

Whereas the higher classes drank alcohol but in the privacy of their own homes. If they the alcohol had a violent effect on them then perhaps it had a psychological effect on them.

Being drunk was seen as a serious crime especially if you were a woman. As that era was extremely patriarchal so of course women had to be seen as angelic.

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I thought I would find a image of a Victorian woman drunk just to analyse some facail expression and her appearance to help create my character more accurately. I can see from this image she has heavy bags under the eyes. Swollen eye lids. Heavy wrinkles around the mouth and chin. Extremely thin lips. From this image I can see that this women looks as though she is middle class due to her clothing, which can also help me with perhaps some hair experimentation. If I wanted to analyse this image in further detail I cold point out the face tha she is wearing black which could indicate that this woman is also grieving like Miss Havisham. As wome often wore black for years to grieve in like Queen Victoria.

I am writing about this to help me get an idea of what Miss Havisham would of drank. Also helps explain why she would not be down the pub everyday and night. Why she would keep herself locked up as she would of been frowned upon and possibly arrested. Drinking everyday would contribute to her insanity.