Parlor Games

Ilona Dénes

Parlor games are directly linked to a social status—urban upper and middle class; a designated domestic space—the parlor; and a specific period in the history of Great Britain and America—the Victorian Era (1837–1901). A type of indoor activity designated for the pastime of adults, parlor games have been passed on to younger generations through several channels. Some of the classical games (like Charades, Tableaux Vivante, Blindman's Bluff, The Minister's Cat, etc.) are still played at various social gatherings, in youth camps, or during holidays spent with the family, especially at Christmas. Another channel through which parlor games remained in our collective memory is the Victorian novel (e.g., Charles Dickens, the Brontë sisters, Lewis Carroll, etc.). Parlor games emerged as a form of entertainment for high society, which was endowed with spare time and wanting to avoid idleness, and also created a medium of communication between the family members and the ...

Users without subscription are not able to see the full content on this title. Please, subscribe or login to access all content on this website.