Driven by a morbid curiosity for the macabre and unusual, the Victorian era also saw the rise of freak shows as a popular form of entertainment. Showmen, often referred to as “circus freaks,” who possessed various physical or medical abnormalities, would travel around London and rural towns, captivating audiences nationwide.
Among them, P.T. Barnum, the iconic American showman, gained immense fame and recognition as the most successful figure of his time. Fortunately, societal attitudes have evolved, and such exploitative forms of entertainment are no longer prevalent in today’s more compassionate and inclusive society.
Not an Ideal Time to Get Sick
In the Victorian era, maintaining good health was challenging due to limited advancements in medicine. With medical practices still in their early stages, people often faced numerous difficulties. Tuberculosis, a highly contagious disease, reigned as the leading cause of death during this era. Seeking treatment meant entering workhouses rather than proper hospitals, where conditions were far from ideal.
The fortunate few who managed to reach a hospital were subjected to surgeries performed without anesthesia or painkillers, making the experience excruciatingly painful. The absence of modern medical advancements and the primitive state of healthcare during that time makes it difficult to imagine a more daunting scenario for those seeking medical assistance.
Dim lit Dinners
In the Victorian era, a peculiar belief circulated that dining in dimly lit rooms aided the process of digestion. As a result, many families had their dining rooms constructed in the basement, conveniently close to the kitchen. This practice might help explain why English cuisine, notorious for its lack of aesthetic appeal, didn't prioritize visual presentation.
For years, the diners scarcely caught a glimpse of their food. Over time, dining rooms gradually shifted to the first floor, but according to depictions in literature and film, it was common for servants to have their meals in the basement, reflecting the social hierarchy and class divisions prevalent during that era.
Victorian Feminism
In the conservative Victorian era, the concept of bloomers was quite radical. Designed to cover the entire leg, even while sitting, they offered a more liberating alternative to the restrictive and voluminous skirts of the time. Some women's rights activists even pushed boundaries further by wearing bloomers as actual pants paired with shorter dresses.
Although they may appear comically oversized to contemporary eyes, in the context of 19th-century England, bloomers represented a daring departure from societal norms and embodied a symbolic shift towards greater comfort and freedom for women.
Diet Fads
During the Victorian era, an intriguing and concerning trend known as the "air diet" gained popularity among teenagers and young women. This extreme diet essentially involved fasting, often without even consuming water, as the prevailing notion was that respectable ladies should refrain from indulging in food.
Mollie Fancher, one of the well-known "fasting girls" of the era, claimed to have gone without food for an astonishing 14 years. Curiously, some of these girls, including Fancher, asserted that their prolonged fasting endowed them with special magical powers. Astonishingly, the public not only believed these claims but also eagerly embraced and perpetuated the narratives surrounding these extraordinary individuals.