THE ROLE OF LANGUAGE IN THE REPRESENTION OF CLASS IN VICTORIAN LITERATURE

Abstract

ABSTRACT: This article examines the role of language in shaping and representing class distinctions in Victorian literature, a period marked by rapid industrialization, social stratification, and changing notions of identity. Through an analysis of key texts by authors such as Charles Dickens, Elizabeth Gaskell, and George Eliot, this study explores how linguistic choices—dialect, vocabulary, and speech patterns—were employed to reflect and reinforce societal hierarchies. Victorian writers often used language as a tool to delineate class boundaries, giving voice to the struggles, aspirations, and prejudices of different social groups. Additionally, this article investigates how language served as a means of critique, exposing the inequities of the era and questioning the rigidity of class structures. By contextualizing these literary techniques within the broader framework of Victorian society, this study highlights the intricate interplay between language and class representation, offering insights into how literature both mirrored and shaped cultural attitudes of the time.