How British Victorian tales of mystery, horror and the supernatural bring to light social and cultural realities of the time
This post focuses on two aspects, that of the difference in legal rights between men and women, specifically married women with reference to the novel “The Hound of the Baskerville” by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. The way that women were treated and looked at during the reign of Queen Victoria with particular interest in married women and the legal rights that women had in the same period. It shows the lack of rights, legal and cultural, and how women where objectified.
The second aspect highlights the differences in houses and housing. The grandeur yet glacial description and feel of the gothic houses. The difference in housing between the social classes again makes its distinction and the squalid circumstances that less fortunate people had to live in with reference to the novels “The strange case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” by Robert Louis Stevenson and “The Hound of the Baskervilles”.
Introduction
Just after the death of her uncle, King William IV, Victoria become queen at the age of 18. Her reign was one of the longest, superseded only by the current monarch Elizabeth II. She is described as “warm-hearted, lively, graceful and occasionally a bit naughty”, although her most iconic portrait depicts otherwise. Her reign was notorious with achievements
“Queen Victoria is associated with Britain’s great age of industrial expansion, economic progress and, especially, empire. At her death, it was said, Britain had a worldwide empire on which the sun never set.”
Thousands upon thousands of inventions were set to the copyright law, some being so successful that changed the way we live. Nonetheless, there were numerous areas which were overseen or neglected; gender rights and clear distinction between social classes where amongst these. The way in which women were portrayed and treated and set as norm is shocking in today’s western world. The laws that helped gender equality were non-existent. Housing and the demand and supply for property was another interesting factor. Although a boom in population and industrialisation, the distinction between classes made a divide between the social classes, separating the rich from the poor even further. The increase in housing and buildings which originally were planned to help, gave rise to more poverty and the creation of slums adding to poverty clusters such as the London East End area which eventually led to the Whitechapel murders and the most famous serial killer of all time.
The deficiency of rights in married women within the social classes
Male dominance, strength and power has been seen in manuscripts and books as far as ancient Greek times and unfortunately is always compared to frail, simple childbearing women. Few are the women in history that have made enough impression to be eternally immortalised in books, memoirs, or journals. This has, attained a stigma where a substantial change has only taken place in the last hundred years. The ideal woman, in a man’s view (or most men) in Victorian time would be submissive, faithful, and secondary. They were biologically inferior and therefore had to be watched over. In contrast a woman who did not obey or rather follow such rules of society was labelled as a fallen woman. “a woman who has lost her good reputation by having sex with someone before she is married”. Officially the term refers to adultery or women who had sex out of wedlock, however this archaic term was being loosely used as a woman of ‘free spirit’ or any that did not follow the Victorian norm. Social class did make a slight difference, but in essence an ideal Victorian woman was confining and were stripped of their rights, simply becoming the property of a man once married. In “Ideals of Womanhood in Victorian Britain” by Lynn Abrams or in the novel “Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell” the wife is supposed to listen to her husband, attend to the needs of the house and household and raise children without complaint.
Several novels depict women as being fragile, naive and at times even foolish. In most they are highly emotional, susceptible to fainting, followed by revival of some medicinal Brandy or by smelling a bottle (normally by a male character). The following from “Dracula” by Bram Stoker follows
“When the terrible story of Lucy’s death, and all that followed, was done, I lay back in my chair powerless. Fortunately I am not of a fainting disposition. When Dr. Seward saw me he jumped up with a horrified exclamation, and hurriedly taking a case bottle from the cupboard, gave me some brandy, which in a few minutes somewhat restored me.”
A similar quote from “The Hound of the Baskervilles” is the following
“Surely your memory deceives you, said I. I could even quote a passage of your letter. It ran Please, please, as you are a gentleman, burn this letter, and be at the gate by ten o’clock.
I thought that she had fainted, but she recovered herself by a supreme effort.
Is there no such thing as a gentleman? she gasped.”
This may be true but such heightened effects which were often to provide a climax of emotions added to the conclusion that women were dependant on others and could not survive on their own. This also leads to the actual rights and opportunities that women had during Queen Victoria’s reign, which was close to none. Although monarchy did not explicitly interfere in Parliament or parliamentary decisions, the queen had a strong influence, but did or could not do anything.
Women weren’t generically mistreated; however, as queen one would assume that being a woman, she would pass or aid in passing some form of decree or law to enable better rights, but alas no. It was in 1918 when women were granted to right to vote. It was 1922 when the law of Property Act came into play where both husband and wife where eligible to inherit a property. All these came after Queen Victoria’s reign. In fact, it was only in 1923 when the final Matrimonial causes act was settled which allowed women to petition for a divorce if their husband was unfaithful. Before this act was passed only men were allowed to divorce a spouse due to adultery, whereas women had to look at other offenses such as cruelty, desertion, or incest over and above adultery. If this could not be accomplished, the only option left was judicial separation which meant that there would be separation from the house but neither party could remarry. In “The hound of the Baskervilles” we have a conversation that outlines such as concern
“The matter is a very private one.
The more reason why you should avoid a public investigation.
I will tell you, then. If you have heard anything of my unhappy history you will know that I made a rash marriage and had reason to regret it.
I have heard so much.
My life has been one incessant persecution from a husband whom I abhor. The law is upon his side, and every day I am faced by the possibility that he may force me to live with him. At the time that I wrote this letter to Sir Charles I had learned that there was a prospect of my regaining my freedom if certain expenses could be met. It meant everything to me — peace of mind, happiness, self-respect — everything. I knew Sir Charles’s generosity, and I thought that if he heard the story from my own lips he would help me.”
Social classes did offer some help in relation to money, however often it was more of a hindrance than a blessing. Let’s not forget that when a marriage occurs (several occasions without the actual consent of the woman), the husband obtains everything she owns. Money, land, inheritance and the woman itself by law belonged to the husband who could do whatever he wanted.
“Profits from any land wives owned at the time of the marriage or inherited during the marriage also became the property of husbands (….) Furthermore, men gained more than ownership of their wives’ earnings and property at marriage: the law made them owners of their wives’ bodies – and hence gave them the right to all that those bodies produced, including domestic labour, sex, and children.”
This statement is well described in the previous snippet for “The hound of the Baskervilles” where Laura Lyons must rely on the generosity of Sir Charles for money to be free from her husband and that even with her little work as a typist could not afford a comfortable life. Similarly, within the same novel there is mentioned that Sir Charles had left five hundred pounds to the Barrymore’s. While Sir Arthur Conan Doyle mentioned “He and his wife” as they were in marriage it was the husband that took the wife’s share.
“Did Barrymore profit at all by Sir Charles’s will? asked Holmes.
He and his wife had five hundred pounds each.”
This also points out to the wage difference between working men and women. This is also more evident when it came to lower classes and where parliament introduced the Poor Law. The latter initially was intended to aid women as they were the majority of the adult recipients, though this aid was given as a remedy by increasing earning to husbands and fathers without accounting for the deserted and abandoned women that were left to support children or other family members with a substantial decrease in earnings.
Housing in Victorian times with the inclusion of specialised rooms
Industrial expansion was at its peak, this meant that new inventions, technology, innovation, and new discoveries were being made in every field. The building industry and housing sector were not missed either. House building became a central strand to the economic growth. Census returns during the early 1800s show a steady rise in population with some periods doubling in numbers. During Victorian times housing changed from shared facilities to self-contained residential homes and a structure of definite allocation of space to each house was also produced. This giving rise to the Public health act of 1875. Like all dwellings, size and price depended on various factors including location (country, city, and street), utilisation and internal coverage. The supply and demand of property and overall housing was not equally balanced. Whatever the advancements, there was still a distinct gap between the poor and the rich. One must make a clear distinction between the classes, at the bottom tier we have the poor, then the working class known today as the middle class, which was divided into three layers, lowest being ‘working men’ then craftsmen and educated working men. Finally, we would have the upper class which again may divided in subclasses, but these mainly comprised of business owners, Lords, and other titled people and finally Royals. An average middle to upper class Victorian house irrespective if in the country or city would comprise of several rooms, having two or more floors. Most had more than one bathroom and servants that took care of the household duties.
On the other hand, poor class families lived in apartments of one or if lucky enough two rooms. Sometimes even more than one family shared an apartment simply to cover the rent. The housing boom helped but it also caused the creation of housing buildings which ended up in run down areas commonly known as slums. They were built quickly and cheaply without any consideration to planning or safety. There were no amenities at all. It was common practice to have communal conveniences commonly known as outhouses making such areas more unsanitary and squalid as there were no sewage pipes nor direct connection to sewers but ran down directly through the streets. In the Opening of the novel “The strange case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” we have a glimpse of one of the buildings and areas
“the street shone out in contrast to its dingy neighbourhood, like a fire in a forest; and with its freshly painted shutters, well-polished brasses, and general cleanliness and gaiety of note, instantly caught and pleased the eye of the passenger.
Two doors from one corner, on the left hand going east, the line was broken by the entry of a court; and just at that point a certain sinister block of building thrust forward its gable on the street. It was two storeys high; showed no window, nothing but a door on the lower storey and a blind forehead of discoloured wall on the upper; and bore in every feature, the marks of prolonged and sordid negligence. The door, which was equipped with neither bell nor knocker, was blistered and distained. Tramps slouched into the recess and struck matches on the panels; children kept shop upon the steps; the schoolboy had tried his knife on the mouldings; and for close on a generation, no one had appeared to drive away these random visitors or to repair their ravages.”
This narrative accounts to an example of middle-class settings that remained in disarray and become a custom to poor class individuals and children which were affected the most, loitering in the streets and alleys of cities.
If we look at the more traditional homes within the Victorian novels of horror and mystery such as “The hound of the Baskervilles” we find Baskerville Hall which although set in the Gothic setting and with the creepy and gloomy setting give us the impression of grandeur
“Suddenly we looked down into a cuplike depression, patched with stunted oaks and firs which had been twisted and bent by the fury of years of storm. Two high, narrow towers rose over the trees (….) From this central block rose the twin towers, ancient, crenellated, and pierced with many loopholes. To right and left of the turrets were more modern wings of black granite. A dull light shone through heavy mullioned windows, and from the high chimneys which rose from the steep, high-angled roof there sprang a single black column of smoke.”
Leaving aside the melancholic appearance, one can deduce the substantial size of the house, it’s gothic appearance with its two towers and turrets. Numerous windows and new wings to the left and right. Obviously in this novel the protagonist Sir Henry has inherited the estate, a large sum of money and a title which would conveniently put him in the upper class.
One area which stands out quite clearly within the Victorian novels is the use of special or converted parts of the house as a means of working or study quarters. In “The strange case of Dr. Dekyll and Mr. Hyde” a laboratory and medical theatre are mentioned regularly
“Mr. Utterson’s nerves, at this unlooked-for termination, gave a jerk that nearly threw him from his balance; but he recollected his courage and followed the butler into the laboratory building through the surgical theatre, with its lumber of crates and bottles, to the foot of the stair”.
It was common practice for working men and individuals to have their own working quarters within their private residences where they could conduct their own experiments and inventions. Consequently a number of such devices put to copyright were designed, developed, and tested in private residences. Another example is in “The hound of the Baskerville” where the naturalist Stapleton kept his collection of butterflies and has offered Dr. Watson to view.
“Will you come upstairs, Dr. Watson, and inspect my collection of Lepidoptera?”
Several shop owners, professionals and artisans would have adjoining apartments or quarters that were solely used for work. Whether it is a laboratory, shop, or medical practice. In Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s, Sherlock Holmes canon, for instance, Dr. Watson is depicted as purchasing a medical practice where he then lived in the upper floors. The same applies to Robert Louis Stevenson in “The strange case of the Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” where he mentions the use of the Laboratory for his chemical experiments and the surgical theatre, again for operations of medical research. All this bearing in mind that ability to pay for such luxury due to their social class. The poor class regrettably didn’t have enough money for lodgings let alone separate quarters for their work, if they had any.
The reason for such quarters also meant that public institutions such as public laboratories where not available or not adequately equipped. In fact, it was towards the end of the 1800s that state funded professional institutions (main sciences) where being created, such as the British Institute of Preventive Medicine (1889).
Conclusion
The Victorian period was not particularly hopeful for women in general. They remained mistreated, ignored, and objectified. They had to follow specific rules from a young age and if they were lucky, they would have been in love and respected. Every aspect of their life was laid out and controlled. The illusion of the perfect woman was just that, an illusion, and the way they were forced to acquiesce to the norm was sometimes barbaric in nature.
The splendour and decorative way Victorian style houses make them unique and personalised. Moving aside from the gothic horror depiction of a dwelling most estates boasted the fruit of the industrialisation of the British empire at the time. This is in contrast with the lower working class which would have to work and build such marvels or the surrounding areas. They had to live in small squalid apartments or in the most remote corners as servants in such dwellings and receive a pittance for their long hours and hard labour.
Bibliography
https://www.royal.uk/queen-victoria. para2
2 Term Fallen woman – https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/fallen-woman. Para1
3 Snippet from Mina Harker’s Journal. Dracula. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2016 – Bram Stoker.
4 Laura Lyons interrogated by Dr. Watson, The hound of the Baskervilles. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2014 – Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Pg68.
5Laura Lyons confession when interrogated by Dr. Watson, The hound of the Baskervilles. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2014 – Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Pg69
6 Snippet from Colonial Comparisons: Rethinking marriage, Civilisation and Nation in Ninteenth-century. Bettina Bradbury. Pg2
7 Mortimer mentioned provisions to Sherlock Holmes, The hound of the Baskervilles. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2014 – Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Pg34
8 The strange case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Published by AmazonClassics, Seattle. – Robert Louis Stevenson. Pg2
9 The Hound of the Baskervilles, CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2014 – Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. pg52
10 Snippet Chapter “The Last night” – The Strange case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr.Hyde. . Published by AmazonClassics, Seattle. – Robert Louis Stevension. pg62
1Stapleton to Dr.Watson – The hound of the Baskervilles. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2014. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.pg83
Reference Content
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- https://victorianweb.org/art/architecture/homes/housing1.html – Para1
- https://sites.udel.edu/britlitwiki/social-life-in-victorian-england/ – Para1
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