Pros And Cons Of The Working Class

The Working Class and its Unique Lifestyle
The working class was known as the poor in the Victorian Era, struggling to stay alive as a result of their low income. This resulted in a sparse diet, ragged clothes, a limited education, and limits to what they could do in terms of literature, music, and theater. Also, as the Industrial Revolution progressed, finding work became more complicated as the working class population had increased putting many people into poverty. Consequently, the people of the working class labored constantly to not only keep their job but to pay for their family expenses.
The working class of Victorian England was a group that worked hard to stay out of poverty as well as off the streets Unlike the upper class they had minimal recreational time. Many different people have tried to account for the working class conditions and what they did in their spare time: “he could attend evening courses on scientific subjects or Latin or shorthand at a Mechanics’ Institution, or at one of the Working Men’s Colleges” (Picard The Working Class and Poor). This imposes that the men could take an educational course to get a better job. Also in their spare time, people would go to street vendors as opposed to markets so they could get food for a more affordable price (Picard The Working Class and Poor). W.J. Reader, a

renowned author explains how the working class would also spend their limited leisure time at pubs, professional football games, and music halls which required almost no cost (108-110). These leisure activities would provide a small amount of relief as the working class was busy during almost all times of the week. In conclusion, people of the working class had only a paucity of time and money limiting to what they could do, but when they did have the time they would spend it wisely.
Working class members were required to work almost all days of the year, with exception to a few holiday traditions. These holiday traditions were of great importance to them as they got the chance to catch up with family and attend different activities. The Victorian Era was mostly Christian resulting in different Christian holidays being celebrated. Author, Sally Mitchell shows how Bank Holidays such as Easter and Boxing Days were important to the working class (20). The Boxing Holiday was a holiday including the working class and the upper class. On this holiday, the upper class would give gifts to the lower classes. The concept of giving was of great importance in the Victorian Era. Moreover, Christmas was also a main tradition of the working class. Mitchell points out how important Christmas was as it was a time of giving and reuniting with family and friends (153). The working class culture incorporated these traditions like which were of great significance to the working class. Also, part of the working class culture was literature. Although famous books written by authors like Charles Dickens did not reach the vendors, the working class had their own literature according to Mitchell (456). Also according to Mitchell, the most common type of reading material was a broadside which consisted of different topics. These reading materials let them read about what was going on and was considered leisure for them. The working class was a group that would participate in numerous traditions and contribute to the literature of the Victorian Era.
Working class members received only twenty-thirty shillings a week resulting in a scanty portion of food and ragged clothing. First off, the amount of food for the working class was minimal resulting in the lack of protein and fat. Writers have worked on pointing out the diet of the working class: “People in the working class got most of their nutrition from bread...show purchases limited to bread, cheese, butter, sugar, tea, salt, and potatoes” ( Daily Life in Victorian England Mitchell 122). The working class could not afford food from markets so they relied highly on street vendors. The skimpy diet of the working class resulted in hunger and death.
Clothing was a fashion trend that was of great significance in the Victorian Era but the working class could not afford the stylish clothes of the time and settled with ragged and trite clothes. According to W.J. Reader, men wore chiefly trousers made of cotton while women wore dresses also made of cotton (95). Furthermore, the working class would occasionally get hand me downs from the upper class but that was if they were lucky. This illustrates that people of the working class despite their low income would still be able to get clothing that was not in the best condition but would still serve its purpose.
Education for the working class was available but the learning conditions were not the best.

Sally Mitchell explains how elementary schools and Sunday Schools offered low-cost instruction for the poor which were run by charitable organizations (165-167) Although these schools offered low-cost education, they were in bad conditions: “868 children taught by one master” (Mitchell 169). These schools were charitable which also meant they were “ragged”. The poor could not afford secondary school so most working class members had 2-3 years of education. Education was an aspect that was low in cost but resulted in bad conditions for the working

class.
Victorian England was a time period of great prosperity but this did not affect the working class as they were forced into bad living conditions resulting from low income. Due to their low income they had a set lifestyle with almost nothing recreational. In conclusion, workers struggled in this time period and consequently left them to a bleak and work orientated lifestyle consisting of sparse diets, ragged clothing, and a small education.