By the standards of social etiquette at the time of this chronicle, almost every aspect of our modern society would be considered unspeakably vulgar.
Victorian society is largely dependent on its members knowing how to recognise others of their own social status and how to properly interact with those above or below them in station. Naturally, those among the idle rich have far more time to invest in inventing nuances of etiquette and behaviour, but the basic ideas of decorum remain steadfast even among the desperately poor.
For those people who lack any kind of permanent privacy, security or hope, a certain degree of manners can provide a small touch of dignity.
Of course, these strict codes of conduct are part of the reason that the Victorian era suits the Kindred so very well. In the human struggles to maintain a proper front in the face of human urges and desires, the Kindred see a parallel to control the Beasts raging within their own hearts. Both humans and vampires use etiquette to temper their inevitable social conflicts. By nature, the Kindred are predatory creatures forced to exist within close proximity to each other for reasons of security and food supply. They use social situations as an arena where they can compete with one another without the fear that their aggressions will bring ruin upon all their kind. Victorian etiquette provides the means for the loser in an exchange to withdraw relatively gracefully and with minimal loss of face, so even vampires who are accustomed to older standards of conduct find the prevailing doctrines of etiquette well worth mastering.
The Basics
The Victorians believed that a strong distinction existed between what was fit for public discussion and what wasn't - yet they did not go on to say that if a thing ought not be discussed publicly it ought not be discussed at all.
Victorian writers produced much erotica along with uplifting essays and insightful novels, and Victorian readers bought it all. They just didn't talk openly about the latest juicy parts in the new issue of The Pearl, whereas they would have heated discussions over stories in The Strand or well-phrased letters to The Times of London.
Check out "Improper Topics and Impure Thoughts" on the Victorians page for more information. (Click Here.)
Names and Titles
Naturally enough, formal titles matter tremendously in Victorian society.
Many countries follow English precedents to varying degrees, so rankings like those listed here apply widely. The more levels of nobility one character is above another, the more the superior is not only entitled but expected to behave authoritatively. Christian charity and regard for mutual humanity are all well and good, but social order depends on everyone knowing their place and avoiding the temptation to slide up or down except through approved channels.
In Great Britain and the Empire, her Majesty the Queen is of course, the highest-ranking person in the land, followed by her sons and immediately male family, then her female relatives.
In order, next come marquises, earls, viscounts and bishops. Within each rank of secular noble, those who hold office for the crown take precedence over their peers who do not. Following these royals come barons, commoners who hold high office in the government, otherwise untitled individuals directly employed by the Queen and the sons of nobles.
Sons are ranked by order of birth and position of their fathers, so that the sons of marquis outrank the sons of a viscount or baron. Below them are the knights, first those with titles unrelated to the orders, and commoners holding lesser offices in the government. Last of all there are the esquires, baronets, commissioned military officers and gentlemen who have been granted the right to bear arms.
Addressing Other Kindred
Using only another person's given name to address him or her is a privilege generally enjoyed only by close friends and family members, and seldom if ever granted to rivals or strangers.
Mister, missus or miss are all used even when speaking to most friends and acquaintances, though a compromise is often reached by saying a person's first name after her title instead of her last name when addressing her. Thus, a stranger or casual associate would say "Miss Meriweather," while a long-time friend might refer to this friend as "Miss Laura." Servants typically referred to their employers by their full title unless directly instructed otherwise, although with permission many also settled on referring to their employers as "master" and "ma'am," or just as commonly "milord" and "milday."
Particularly treasured and trustworthy servants might even be allowed to use their employer's given name alone in private, though having a servant address you by just your given name in public was considered a shocking offence, and often grounds for immediate firing even by generous employers. After all, appearances are everything.
While "lord" and "lady" were technically specific noble titles, common parlance often found them used whenever individuals interacted with someone whose standing they were unaware of, in order to avoid giving any unintended offence.
"Sir" and a formal-sounding "madam" were also common on such occasions, and even once a full title was known, most formal requests or statements were preceded by those titles unless etiquette specifically demanded some other form of address. ("Sir, may I speak to you a moment?") Even between different different classes, such standards were maintained, if only in mockery at times. Thus a noble addressing a humble shopkeeper would still call him "sir" or "mister," to ensure that they came off as well-mannered, while the shopkeeper would return the favour if he wanted to appear dignified and respectful.
Higher ranks denoted different modes of address. Lords and ladies were addressed as "sir" and "lady," respectively, though ladies were sometimes also referred to by the title of dame. Barons and baronesses (also called baronets) were referred to as "lord" and "lady." Counts and countesses would be properly addressed as "Your Excellency;" earls and bishops also fall into this category. A duke or duchess was referred to as "Your Grace;" this was also true of archbishops. A king or queen was addressed as "Your Majesty;" princes and princesses were usually addressed as "Your Royal Highness."
For that matter, a Camarilla prince was often addressed as "Your Majesty" as well.
It should also be taken into account that those of equal or superior rank did not refer to each other by these more formal terms of address unless they wish to be either exceedingly polite or subtly insulting. If Count Worthington wishes to address Count Bartleby, he would not address him as "Your Excellency;" that's for servants and social lessers. Rather, he would simply call him Count Bartleby, unless he was asking a great favour... or mocking his fellow noble.
