In the mid-19th century, despite the Royal Navy’s dominance, Queen Victoria’s stability, and scientific advancements, a sense of disillusionment grew among the English upper classes. Richard Holmes explores this in his book “The Boundless Deep” through the lens of Alfred Tennyson, challenging Victorian optimism and the belief in linear progress.
Holmes emphasizes how Lord Kelvin’s discovery of the second law of thermodynamics and Charles Darwin’s “Origin of Species” led to a rise in Victorian pessimism, reshaping intellectual thought. Tennyson, as Poet Laureate, grappled with the clash between traditional religious beliefs and new scientific theories, reflecting on nature’s brutality in his poetry.
Through advancements in oceanography, meteorology, and geology, Victorian society began to see the natural world as dynamic and interconnected, governed by discoverable laws. Holmes showcases the collaboration and gradual progress in scientific discoveries, highlighting the transformative impact of science on intellectual thought.
As the Victorians built infrastructure, improved healthcare, and extended education, questions about the purpose of human existence arose. Influenced by German pessimism, intellectuals like Tennyson and Conrad faced existential dilemmas in a universe seemingly devoid of meaning.
Tennyson’s response, captured in his poem “Ulysses,” reflects a defiant embrace of life’s challenges, urging to seek new adventures despite inevitable obstacles. The concept of facing adversity with courage and dignity resonates in popular culture, embodying the spirit of not giving up even in the face of a bleak future.
