The Victorian Literature Parmar Dipali K. Roll No: 26 Topic: Unit 5 ‘History of the Age’ Sub Topic: Child Labor: Hidden Reality M.A. Sem. 2 Batch: 2015-’17 Email Id: dipaliparmar247@gmail.com Department Of English (M.K.B.U.)

Victorian Era:

Hidden Reality

As we have studied Victorian age as an age of progress and prosperity.

But there is a harsh reality of child labor in this time.

Wealthy people’s children didn’t suffer but the condition of poor children were unimagined.

Children are born to labor

Poor Victorian Children

The children of poor family expected to help their family to survive.

They lived in smaller houses which has rarely two rooms even.

They haven’t toys to play. Because at the age of playing they

have machines in their hand.

Age limit for Working

One will not believe in present time that Victorian poor children had started working from a very low age of 5 or 6.

From the age of 5 children had to start working and around the age of 25 they died also.

Parents sometimes misunderstood and thought that having more children will raise their income.

So they produced more number of children. Some of they had 10 to 12 children or even more.

What type of job they do?

Innocence in Danger 5 to 9 year old chimney sweeper would come out of the chimney with

full of coal and dirt. Sometimes their hands, knees, legs, elbows were bleeding yet they wash

it with salt and water and went for another chimney.

In mines some places are difficult for adult to pass through, there forcefully women or children were sent with heavy load tying with them.

Position of a Girl Child They were working mostly in

factories of cloths and hat making.

Some girls were servants in rich families.

Among street children some of the girls had chosen a work of prostitution.

If they come in fault during work, then no one can protect them.

References https://www.google.com/search?

q=Victorian+child+labor&espv=2&biw=1280&bih=877&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj1w7rTlOjLAhUBV44KHaUOCiwQ_AUIBygB

http://www.victorianchildren.org https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_6ByG7q74qg

Thank You