The Nouveaux Riche of Victorian England :: Victorian Era

The Nouveaux Riche of Victorian EnglandRelation of The New Banking/Industrial Class to High SocietyAs the middle class began to further divide, those who grew in wealth became known as a banking/industrial class. Along with their sudden economical prosperity there came a desire for social transformation- an aspiration for forward-looking aristocracy. They carried their traditional middle class values into prominence with their accumulation of wealth. They sought to achieve a merit oriented Society rather than social climbing, for their childrens sake, into the quick one based solely on birth. This hindered the new class from ever attaining Aristocratic Social acceptance for their new wealth and deemed them the nouveaux riche. Despite obvious disapproval from the Aristocracy the nouveaux riche continued their economic ascent through personal contact which was a crucial element in filling posts (Loftus 5). This dependence upon others for mounting economic standing was contrary to t he middle class value of independence. This industrial class was forced to rely upon the connections, potentially easy, in order to succeed. Loftus explains that middle-class values were shape out in these attempts to define a society based on merit rather than aristocratic privilege. However, the importance of cultural capital and social networks to conquest in the period implies that the rise of the middle-classes in the Victorian period saw the replacement of one set of privileges with another (Loftus 4). However the Nouveaux Riche failed to fully assimilate into aristocratic society due to lack of pedigree.Spending Habits of the Nouveaux RicheAlong with new bills comes the ability to spend it. The Industrial class did exactly that, using their newly acquiredmoney to purchase large amounts of land and houses august enough for the property. This land ownership propelled some nouveauxriche into riches surpassing those of the highest aristocracy. Their houses of course had to be decorated outdoing the splendorof the bodily structure itself. This class took immense pride in their homes which they saw as a reflection of status (BBC Homes). The styles were excessively ornamental and took their influence from Gothic styles, rococo, styles, the Orient, and developments from their own industrialization. With owning such(prenominal) ornately decorated residences they had to show them off this was done so through dinner parties and balls. People of course could not be outmatched by the rich styles of their houses and thence doled out large amounts of money for clothes and transportation.