The industrial revolution.

'Scientific advances and technological innovations brought growth in agricultural and industrial production, economic expansion and changes in living conditions, while at the same time there was a new sense of national identity and civic pride.' - quote from article on the British Museum website written by Artemis Manolopoulou. (2008) - https://www.britishmuseum.org/research/publications/online_research_catalogues/paper_money/paper_money_of_england__wales/the_industrial_revolution.aspx

AGRICULTURE: New tools, harvesting techniques and fertilisers were introduced along with new farming systems this allowed for a larger production of crops and revolutionised farm life. The countryside was becoming more urbanised and the landscape throughout England was becoming industrialised and became filled with large buildings and factories which produced mass employability. 'agriculture remained a principal provider of employment in the provinces, both supporting and being supported by industry.' 

INDUSTRY: 'Mass production was achieved by replacing water and animal power with steam power, and by the invention of new machinery and technology.' The innovation of steam power brought on change such as public transportation ( trains ) which allowed for people who had never left there small towns to travel large distances to cities and experience new things. Cities became much more populated and included large factories and warehouses. As this change developed, the people that moved into cities either became very rich and lived a good life or lived in complete poverty. This lead to the social classes being very segregated in this time while still living within close proximity of one another. This period saw the creation of the middle class.  Coal was the key factor in the production of steam power. And the transportation of goods became quicker and more reliable.  'The metal industry developed into one of the most profitable in the country from the late 18th 
century onwards.' 

 

SCIENTIFIC AND PSYCHOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT:'A revival of the neo-classical and gothic styles created a visual link to a glorious past and stood as a testament to a city’s grandeur and urban prosperity, inspiring a sense of civic pride.'  This neo- classical revival was due to the change and discoveries being made in science. The population no longer had fears of the unknown as science began to explain many of the anomalies that were unexplained during the original gothic period. The Victorians were known to have had an obsession with death and this lead to the imagination becoming more interesting and books with gothic horror themes started to be written. However these stories had a more scientific and psychological basis and reflected more of the subconscious mind and fears within ourselves. 
I.e. the theory by Sigmund Freud explaining how horror films and books reflect our subconscious desires, urges and fears and how he theorised that these books and films depicted to arouse the fear of mental illness and allow for our psychosexual desires to be released. As well as the idea of repression ( locking traumatic memories inside oneself ) for example a werewolf. Every monster began to develop a mental illness link that would start to terrorise the Victorian people rather than the monster itself.

(All quotes taken from British Museum website in this section of my research)

“The similarity between dreaming and watching a film has been noted…apart from the coincidence of their birth and their intercourse with dreams, however, psychoanalysis and film also share certain important characteristics. Both are artifacts of the scientific and industrial age. Both are concerned with what the mind sees. Both treat time as highly malleable and the unconscious as timeless. Both are concerned with tangible reality – psychological and photographic – but both are also vitally concerned with the intangible” (Cocks, 2003, p. 38). 

( SEE BLOG POST 'KAT'S LESSON NOTES 2' FOR MORE INFORMATION ON DIFFERENT MONSTERS AND HOW THESE PORTRAY DIFFERENT MENTAL ILLNESSES.)

This research has helped me to better understand the time period in which the book was set. I think that this will help me with the development of my character and the way in which i portray him. 
For example Dorian Gray was of the upper class, meaning he was wealthy and well dressed and eats well so he would look beautiful and healthy. He socialised with other members of the upper class who all had lots of money. However he did fall in love with a girl of a lower class only to later break her heart. However as he begins to become immoral and corrupt his character doesn't change, only the painting does. In the climactic scene near the end of the book, where Dorian's painting is reflected finally on himself, his appearance changes until he looks old, evil and ill. He would look as if he was in the lower class.


The painting of Dorian:

Is to show Dorian the physical burdens of age and sin. Dorian sets his conscience aside and lives his life according to a single goal: achieving pleasure. The portrait, however, acts as his conscience and hounds him with the knowledge of his crimes. In the painting he sees the cruelty and he showed to Sibyl Vane, resulting in her suicide, the murder of Basil Hallward and all of his immoral acts in between. Such as using opium and laying with prostitutes.                   Spark notes: http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/doriangray/themes.html ( taken and adapted by myself )