The Victorian period took place from 1837-1901 and occurred during the reign of Queen Victoria in England, hence the name “Victorian” (Rahn 2011). During this time, the Industrial Revolution was happening and the breakdown of the church began (Rahn 2011). The enormous change in society also materialized in the literature. For example, one of the most famous Victorians was Charles Darwin, who published his groundbreaking theory of evolution known as Darwinism during the Victorian period. Additionally, the shift from poetry (the most common source of literature) to novels also happened by the end of the period (Rahn 2011). Novels written in Victorian times reflected the changes of society and included themes of morality and realism. The Victorian literary period was the bridge between romanticism and the future writing of the 20th century. Today, novels still hold a significant place in literature which validates the impact Victorian literature had on the modern world (Rahn 2011).
Robert Louis Stevenson’s novel of Jekyll and Hyde was written during the Victorian era and embodies the essence of Victorian times. Stevenson made the setting for Mr. Hyde’s house in SoHo, London. Soho was once a respected neighborhood but became a dark and hazardous place known for crime and prostitution during the Victorian era (Layson and Law 2014). Due to the Industrial Revolution happening, a lower-class neighborhood such as Soho in the Victorian era can be pictured as ashy, dim place darkened with chimney smoke and neglected architecture. Which is symbolic of Hyde’s existence. In his work, Stevenson conceptualizes both the lavish and comfortable life of upper class Victorian society through Dr. Jekyll and than the dismal, concealed side of society that Victorians tried to hide through Mr. Hyde.
The conflict of good and bad that was present in Jekyll and Hyde was not unfamiliar to Victorian literature. It was clear that the drastic change happening in society was also happening in art. The industrial revolution did a lot to progress societal changes but also left mass destruction in its path. This was happening to Victorian people as well. Victorians tried their best to conceal the darker side of society that was developing as a result of the evolution of society through maintaining good manners and respect. Victorian literature worked to denounce the perception of Victorian society and expose what truly appeals to the people who lived it in.
Works Cited
- Diniejko, Andrzej. Charles Darwin’s Theory of Evolution and the Intellectual Ferment of the Mid- and Late Victorian Periods, www.victorianweb.org/science/darwin/diniejko.html.
- Layson, Hana, and Jules Law. “Digital Collections for the Classroom.” Victorians and the Hidden Self: Cultural Contexts for Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and The Picture of Dorian Gray: Digital Collections for the Classroom, dcc.newberry.org/collections/victorians-and-the-hidden-self.
- Rahn, Josh. “Victorian Literature.” The Literature Network: Online Classic Literature, Poems, and Quotes. Essays & Summaries, www.online-literature.com/periods/victorian.php.
- The Industrial Revolution, primaryhomeworkhelp.co.uk/victorians/industrialrevolution.html.
