by Honor G
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| Oscar Wilde and George Orwell |
It has often been remarked in general conversation that history affects literature, but this is rarely discussed enough, or in appropriate detail. It is widely accepted that the times in which we live profoundly affect our understanding of the world, not least our opinions of the events going on around us. This has a monumental impact on the literature that we produce, and is very interesting to analyse after society has moved forward in time. In this article, I will be exploring this idea by using the books: The Picture of Dorian Grey, Middle England, Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, and Animal Farm.
The Picture of Dorian Grey, by Oscar Wilde (published in 1890), was his only novel, but it certainly produced an inflammatory effect among late 19th century society. The story follows Dorian Grey as he sells his soul in order to stay young and beautiful. The morality novel is relevant at any time for any reader, but the Victorian society of the 1800s looked down on Wilde’s unreserved attitude and approach to acknowledging his own and his characters’ romantic feelings towards men (in an era when homosexuality was forbidden), whilst also depicting the extravagant and opulent lifestyle of ‘society men’. The late 19th century heralded the start of Modernism, with authors such as Virginia Woolf and James Joyce writing new classics for a new society. Wilde’s novel is also part of this modernist movement, which helps to explain the contemporary ideas within the book, consequently encouraging new debate on ‘taboo’ topics - although originally the novel was censored by its publishers for fear of offending the British public.
Middle England, by Jonathan Coe, explores the different perspectives of people during the years surrounding Brexit. The book narrates the experiences of these people from 2010 to 2018, which was a tumultuous time in British politics - with distrust and unhealthy argument developing at the heart of many relationships. It provides a valuable and interesting diversity of opinions through each character’s storyline, and cleverly analyses the reasons for each political view. This book therefore shows how confusing and difficult the Brexit years were for everyone in society - and consequently reflects this in literary form.
Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, by Robert Louis Stevenson, differs hugely from the ideas and storyline of Wilde’s ‘The Picture of Dorian Grey’, and therefore offers an interesting literary comparison. Although the novels were published four years apart (Stevenson’s novella was published in 1886), their subject matter includes similar themes, as Stevenson documents the disastrous scientific experiment from Dr Jekyll as he tries to separate his good and bad egos in the form of the murderous Mr Hyde. This reflects the societal pressure Jekyll feels in an elitist and separated British class society, which forces him to attempt to be the ‘perfect’ doctor, eventually resulting in his eventual downfall as he becomes consumed by his alter-ego. This reveals a lot about late 19th century society, as the pressure to be perfect in a constantly evolving modern world proves to be too much for the seemingly faultless Jekyll. Consequently, this lends the reader to consider whether this narrative echoes the inner feelings of Stevenson himself in his very real existence in 1800s Britain.
Animal Farm, by George Orwell, documented a monumental change in world politics at the beginning of the Cold War and post-Russian Revolution, and cleverly uses an extended metaphor to create an alternate reality in which to explore the outcomes and consequences of certain political events. The satirical book describes a group of farm animals who rebel against their owner, and eventually realise how difficult it is to self-govern, and then have to suffer the consequences of a dictatorship under the pig, Napoleon. This book, published just after the end of the Second World War and based on the cultural upheaval of the Russian Revolution, clearly shows Orwell’s (or Eric Arthur Blair in real life) social perspective, and acts as a literary outlet for his fears and concerns about the future of the world.
To conclude, it is obvious that the culture of our time affects the literary work we produce, and these four novels are only a segment of the evidence out there - so I would recommend that the next time you pick up a book, research a little bit of its context, and it will definitely adjust and enhance your reading and perspective of it.
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