Victorian Horror: Tales of the Supernatural in the 19th Century

The Victorian era, a period spanning the reign of Queen Victoria from 1837 to 1901, was characterized by immense industrial, cultural, and scientific progress.

Yet, as gas lamps lit the streets of London and scientific discoveries transformed society, a deep interest in the supernatural persisted.

This juxtaposition birthed what we now term as ‘Victorian Horror’. Dive with us into the chilling tales and the reasons behind their popularity.

The Landscape of Victorian Horror

Amid the backdrop of the Victorian era, one can’t help but note the delicious irony: even as the world charged forward with locomotives and logic, it was haunted by tales of the supernatural.

The era’s horror literature is a reflection of this tension, masterfully weaving together the advancements of the age with the eerie allure of the unknown.

Influences on Victorian Horror

Scientific Discoveries

The 19th century was a hotbed of scientific breakthroughs.

With the unveiling of dinosaur fossils, not only was the sheer scale of geological time realized, but the existence of monsters in Earth’s past became a haunting fact. Anatomical expeditions into the human body, combined with fledgling ventures into the realms of psychology, challenged the very core of human identity.

Such endeavors often stood at odds with deeply-held religious and cultural beliefs, and in this clash between old and new, a sense of unease proliferated.

This dichotomy propelled the Victorians towards the fantastical, the otherworldly, and the downright terrifying.

Urban Legends and Myths

The Victorian age was a time of mass urbanization. As people thronged to burgeoning cities, whispers of the macabre followed closely.

Alleys were believed to harbor malevolent spirits, and newly-built homes were not immune to the rumors of curses and hauntings.

The tales of vengeful ghosts, restless souls, and malefic entities reflected a society grappling with the unforeseen consequences of rapid urban growth—loss of community, anonymity, and the eerie silence of empty mansions.

Spiritualism

This was also an era marked by profound grief—due to wars, diseases, and the harsh realities of urban life.

The void left by loss manifested in a collective yearning to bridge the gap between the living and the dead. Enter mediums, séances, and the Spiritualist movement.

The Victorian parlor was often transformed into a mystic ground, candles flickering as the living sought communion with the departed. This obsession wasn’t merely about seeking comfort—it was also about understanding the mysterious realm beyond death.

Themes Explored

Duality of Man

Victorian horror frequently delved deep into the human psyche, unearthing the constant battle between our base impulses and our loftier ideals.

Robert Louis Stevenson’s “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” is a testament to this inner turmoil. It’s not just a tale of a man and his monstrous alter ego, but a reflection of society’s own struggle with its shadow self.

The Unknown

At a time when the world was rapidly being charted and explained, there remained shadows that defied illumination. Tales like Henry James’ “The Turn of the Screw” play on this ambiguity, forcing readers to question the very nature of reality.

Is there truly a malevolent spirit, or is it a figment of a distressed mind? Such stories tapped into the innate human fear of the incomprehensible.

Death and Afterlife

Mortality, with its cold and inevitable embrace, was a recurrent theme in Victorian literature.

The era’s preoccupation with death was not just about the end of life, but what lay beyond.

From the soul-chilling tales of revenants, who defied death to return from their graves, to the seductive danger of vampires like Dracula, the Victorians were both fascinated and horrified by the potentialities of the afterlife.

Iconic Victorian Horror Writers

The Victorian era was not merely a golden age of industry and empire but also a prolific period for literature—especially horror.

The shadows cast by the gas lamps of London seemed to breathe life into the phantoms, monsters, and twisted souls that populated the pages of the age’s most iconic tales.

Mary Shelley

Shelley’s name is indelibly etched into the annals of horror literature. Born amidst the Romantic literary movement, her magnum opus, “Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus”, isn’t just a tale of a mad scientist and his monstrous creation.

It’s a profound exploration of man’s hubris, the ethical implications of creation, and the relentless quest for knowledge.

Shelley’s monster, pitiable and fearsome in equal measure, raises questions about nature, nurture, and the very essence of humanity.

Bram Stoker

An Irishman by birth, Stoker’s name is now inseparable from the nocturnal predator that haunts the Carpathian Mountains: Count Dracula.

While vampire legends have existed for centuries, it was Stoker’s “Dracula” that concretized the modern image of the vampire as a suave yet beastly aristocrat, forever hungering for blood.

Through the pages of his novel, Stoker explores themes of sexuality, invasion, and the clash between modernity and ancient evil.

Henry James

While perhaps not exclusively a horror writer, James’ forays into the genre have cemented his reputation as a master of psychological terror.

His narratives often blur the lines between reality and imagination, sanity and madness.

“The Turn of the Screw”, his most acclaimed horror work, is a chilling tale of a governess, two children, and the specters that may (or may not) haunt them, leaving readers in a state of unnerving ambiguity.

Legacy of Victorian Horror

Far from being relics of a bygone era, the ghostly tales and monstrous myths of Victorian horror remain alive, continuing to cast their eerie glow upon the landscape of modern horror.

Modern Adaptations

The tendrils of Victorian horror have wound their way into the fabric of contemporary pop culture, testament to the age’s lasting influence.

Movies and Series

The silver screen has proven a fertile ground for Victorian horror. Series like “Penny Dreadful” weave together various characters from the era’s literature, creating a tapestry of Gothic horror.

Films such as “Crimson Peak” channel the Victorian aesthetic, replete with haunted mansions and tragic specters, demonstrating the era’s enduring allure.

Literary Homages

Modern writers remain enchanted by the cobblestone streets and fog-shrouded alleys of Victorian horror.

Whether it’s a direct retelling, a thematic inspiration, or a subtle nod, contemporary literature frequently pays homage to its 19th-century predecessors.

These narratives, while rooted in the present, often echo the anxieties, themes, and aesthetics of Victorian horror, bridging the temporal divide.

Enduring Lessons of Victorian Horror

As the fog-laden streets of Victorian tales fade into history, the imprints they leave on our collective psyche remain palpable.

While the settings, characters, and specific phobias of Victorian horror might seem distant, the underlying lessons and insights resonate profoundly.

The era’s stories are more than just chilling tales—they are mirrors reflecting our deepest fears, desires, and the complexities of the human condition.

Timeless Nature of Fear

At its core, Victorian horror tapped into universal anxieties. Whether it’s the fear of the unknown, the dread of one’s own darker tendencies, or the terrifying vastness of the universe, these tales highlight that fear, in its many forms, is a constant companion through the ages.

The very fact that modern readers still flinch at a Gothic specter or feel unease at a twisted tale underscores the universality of these fears.

The Complexity of Humanity

Characters like Dr. Jekyll, Frankenstein’s creature, and the tormented souls in “The Turn of the Screw” underscore the multifaceted nature of humanity.

They challenge us to reflect on our own moral compass, the boundaries of our empathy, and the fragile line between sanity and madness. The Victorian era’s exploration of duality reminds us that the battle between light and shadow exists within us all.

The Power of Storytelling

The enduring appeal of Victorian horror is a testament to the age’s masterful storytelling. These narratives, rich in atmosphere and psychological depth, have transcended their time, proving that a well-spun tale can bridge centuries.

Through their stories, Victorian writers invite us to confront our own fears, question societal norms, and engage with the larger mysteries of existence.