Context Flashcards
Who created the theory of atavism?
Lombroso, an Italian doctor
What is the theory of atavism?
humans evolved from primitive forms so could return to this basic state and succumb to primitive urges
What did Lombroso believe in?
idea of the born criminal
criminals could be identified by their appearance, particularly skulls
What features, in atavism, were so frequently remarked in criminals?
sugar-loaf or angular skull
big eyes, jaws, canines
arm span exceeds height
hairiness
When was ‘Origin of Species’ published?
1859
Who wrote ‘Origin of Species’?
Charles Darwin
What did the publishing of ‘Origin of Species’ cause?
ape vs. angel debate
What was the ‘ape vs. angel’ debate?
victorians lived in a pious society so were disgusted by idea that humans had evolved from primitive creatures
What was a cultural obsession in the Victorian era?
freak shows
Give an example of a freak show
PT Barnums’ Congress of Freaks
What was expected of a Victorian gentleman?
patience, calm attitude
What is calvinism?
branch of Christianity
What is a calvanist’s view?
total depravity ; original sin is unavoidable
people may appear outwardly good but they will always have sinful intentions
What did ‘gross indecency’ refer to?
homosexual acts between two men
What made ‘gross indecency’ punishable by hanging?
1885 Criminal Law Amendment Act
When was Jekyll and Hyde written?
1886
Who wrote Jekyll and Hyde?
Robert Louis Stevenson
When did RLS write the Body Snatcher?
1884
What happens in the Body Snatcher?
a man is haunted by his guilty conscience and one of his victims
What are symptoms of syphillis?
rashes, sores, growths
infertility, hair loss
How did the Victorians treat syphillis?
mercury
Examples of prudery and repression in Victorian era
arms and legs = ‘extremities’, ‘limbs’
Language of Flowers
Examples of Language of Flowers
Red Carnations ; ‘my heart aches for you’
Pink ; ‘Yes’
White Rose ; ‘I cannot’
What form is Jekyll and Hyde?
gothic shilling shocker
What social ills was the Victorian period known for?
poverty
child labour
drug and alcohol abuse
prostitution
How many prostitutes were there in London during the 1850s?
80,000 prostitutes
What did Victorians enjoy?
gossip and scandal
What did Victorians like to read?
publications that provided gossip and talk of contemporary celebrities
Which publication of gossip was first published in 1843?
News of the World
When was News of the World first published?
1843
What was News of the World?
publication of gossip and talk of contemporary celebrities
What was Laudanum?
mixture of opium and alcohol
What was the drug of choice during the Victorian era?
laudanum
Which social classes used laudanum?
all social classes
How available was laudanum?
freely available
What was a popular drink during the Victorian times?
gin
Where could gin be enjoyed during Victorian times?
gin palaces
What was the population of London in 1831?
1.8 million
What was the population of London in 1901?
6.5 million
What was population density of London in 1831?
3,021
What was the population density of London in 1901?
10,466
What did increase in urban population result in for Victorians in London?
postal service
telegraph / telephone service
sewage system
What did crowded slums mean for those living in them?
poor living conditions
disease
What disease was rife in crowded slums in Victorian London?
tuberculosis
What major change occurred during the Victorian period?
industrial revolution
How does the urban landscape subvert the expectations of the gothic tropes?
set in busy bustling city rather than isolated countryside/marshes