Queen Victoria

The longest ruling monarch in British history. (1837-1901) She held little political power, but her strict code of behavior and morality set a standard for her time.  For Britain, Victoria’s reign was a time not only of power and prosperity but also of political reform.

Industrial Chaos: Who’s to Blame?

Queen Victoria should pay more attention to Britain, instead of grieving about her lost husband[1]. First of all, she has a responsibility as a ruler and she is not acting wisely in ignoring it. Her responsibility is to rule Britain as Queen, and instead it seems that her only concern is her dead husband. The Queen has forgotten that there are three different classes who cannot be controlled without a Queen, and she is paying no interest nor showing any efforts to help each class and their specific needs. For example, she pays no mind, or so it seems, to any lords and how concerned they are because of the power that is now challenging them. Instead, she worries about the Great Exhibition, and how perfectly it portrays Britain’s wealth and industrial advances. Also, from her point of view, the Industrial Revolution has brought everything that Britain need. It has brought new technologies and advances, and it is everything that anyone could want! The Great Exhibition has brought Britain so much popularity that Queen Victoria has gone back to the exhibit 40 times! Well, she is so wrapped up in the Industrial Revolution[2] and the Great Exhibition that she doesn’t care what the people think; she just wants more advances and more technologies[3], along with more popularity for Britain.

All of these advances in technology, along with all the money raised by the Great Exhibition, have brought everyone else power and wealth that challenges the Upper class lords[4] power. For Victoria, her power is not challenged, so she must think that the world continues to be perfect in Britain since the Industrial Revolution and the Great Exhibition have brought so many good things. Well, she needs to understand that while she is grieving in her room and obsessing about how much more popular she is for the Great Exhibition and being part of the Industrial Revolution, people outside in the real world are losing economic power, political power, and their workers who once maintained their land! Victoria should somehow find a way to fix at least one of the problems outside her world, say the Upper class lord’s problem. Without a doubt our problem is the most disturbing and our job is the most useful in this world of hectic chaos, since we are virtually the only people who care about the economy and the rapid rise that challenges our power. She might, for example, change one simple thing that, in turn, would change the way Britain (especially lords) would look at her. Maybe she could form a sort of contract deal that would allow no workers to leave their lord’s land and work in the new factories that are just so appealing to everyone. This ‘contract’ would ensure that lords maintain their land and continue maintaining that land until the workers either are dismissed, or die. It may sound cruel, but when compared to how Victoria has been avoiding Britain and avoiding her responsibilities as the Queen, it really must not seem cruel at all. However, if she shapes up anytime soon, before her popularity has gone completely down the black hole, she might regain the responsibility and encouragement that is needed to rule Britain strongly. That way, the Industrial Revolution and Great Exhibition would actually have one good effect.