Punch. "A Practical Application." Punch, vol. 43, 20 Dec. 1862, p. 254. Reproduced in
Michele Cohen, “Dueling, Conflicting Masculinities, and the Victorian Gentleman,” Journal of British Studies, vol. 45, no. 2, Apr. 2006, pp. 283–305. Cambridge University Press, https://doi.org/10.1086/499791.
This image shows a comical illustration from an English Newspaper from 1862. The photo and caption are a play on a clock’s strike and a strike in a fight. This image was chosen as it depicts this period's common perception of masculinity. The Victorian ideal of masculinity was characterized mainly by strength and stoicism. This era placed a large value on athleticism and physical capability, especially as it related to one’s ability to work. Another key aspect of this period in relation to masculinity, was the idea of respectability. As seen in the image above, although the man shows his physical capability, he is also dressed in the approved Victorian fashion and seems to be acting as an upstanding citizen in the face of a criminal, showing his wealth and propriety. Masculinity was also tied to emotional rigour. Men who were able to control and suppress their emotions were seen as more masculine than those who expressed their emotions openly. Shows of physical ability and strength in lieu of emotional reactions were thus preferred by men in this era. The Victorian era enforced strong gender roles and valued the ideal of strong, stoic, proper, masculine men in society.