The Enigmatic World of Victorian Folklore and Horror Literature
The Victorian era, which lasted from 1837 to 1901, was a time of great change and progress in England, but it was also a time of deep superstition and folklore. Victorian society was heavily influenced by folklore, and many of the beliefs and traditions of the time are still remembered and celebrated today.
The concept of changelings represented a way for Victorians to grapple with the inexplicable. In an era marked by rapid industrialization and scientific advancement, there remained an undercurrent of anxiety about the unknown. Changelings became a symbolic bridge between the rational, emerging world and the enduring mysteries of the past. In many ways, they served as a manifestation of societal fears.
The horror genre thrives on the exploration of societal fears and the unsettling aspects of human existence and Victorian authors often drew from the well of these fears to craft their tales.
One of the most well-known pieces of Victorian folklore is the idea of the ghost. Ghosts were a common theme in Victorian literature, and many people believed in the existence of spirits who lingered after death. The Victorian era was a time of great mourning, as many people lost loved ones to disease and war, and many people turned to ghost stories and legends as a way to cope with their grief.
Another important aspect of Victorian folklore was the belief in magic and the supernatural. Many people believed in the power of spells and incantations, and they sought out ways to harness the power of magic to influence their lives. The popularity of spiritualism, the belief in communicating with the dead through mediums, also grew during the Victorian era, and many people attended séances in hopes of communicating with lost loved ones.
Changelings
The belief in changelings, or the substitution of a human child for a fairy child, was a common superstition in the 1800s. This belief was especially prevalent in rural Ireland, where stories of fairies and other supernatural beings were deeply ingrained in folklore. The idea of a changeling was often used to explain unusual behaviour in children or to explain why a child appeared to be different from their parents. Changelings were seen as a source of fear and unease, as they were thought to have the power to bring illness, misfortune, and death to the human family that had taken them in.
One of the most well-known cases of changelings in the 1800s was the case of Bridget Cleary. Bridget was an Irish woman who lived in County Tipperary and was married to Michael Cleary. In 1895, Michael became convinced that his wife was a changeling and that the real Bridget had been taken by the fairies. He subjected her to a series of brutal trials in an attempt to determine her true identity. These trials included starvation, binding her to a chair, and setting her on fire.
The case of Bridget Cleary was widely covered in the press and became one of the most notorious cases of changelings in the 1800s. Many people believed that Michael Cleary was not alone in his belief that his wife was a changeling, and that other people in the area also believed that their own loved ones had been replaced by fairies.
The belief in changelings was not limited to Ireland and was common throughout Europe and the British Isles. However, it was in Ireland that the belief was most deeply ingrained and where the most notorious case took place.
The case of Bridget Cleary highlights the power of superstition and belief in the supernatural in the 1800s. It also highlights the way in which such beliefs could be used to justify violence and abuse, especially against women. The case is a sobering reminder of the dangers of letting superstition and belief in the supernatural run rampant and the importance of reason and evidence in understanding the world around us.
The belief in changelings found its way into both classic and contemporary Victorian horror stories, drawing from ancient folklore. While on the surface, this concept seems fantastical, it was, in fact, a reflection of the complex and often harsh realities of the Victorian era.
Bone China, the contemporary gothic novel from 2019 by Laura Purcell is set in the 19th century and follows the experiences of Hester Why, a nurse with a mysterious past, who is employed to care for a family member at Morvoren House. As Hester settles into her new role, she discovers the eccentricities of the family and the staff and the secrets they harbour. This gothic tale sees the family impose strange rituals to ward off the little people as the author explores the idea of the changeling.
Ghosts
The Victorian era was marked by an extraordinary preoccupation with the supernatural and a deep fascination with death and the afterlife. This fascination was significantly fueled by the profound and pervasive experience of grief in society. Several key points connect ghosts, folklore, and grief during the Victorian era.
The 19th century was a period of immense societal change and upheaval. Families often had to endure the loss of loved ones due to war and disease which created a climate of widespread mourning and grief, which found expression in both public and private spheres.
The belief in ghosts, spirits, and the ability to communicate with the dead provided a source of comfort for the bereaved. In Victorian folklore, it was common to perceive ghosts as benevolent and protective entities. Families believed that the spirits of their departed loved ones continued to watch over them, offering solace to the grieving.
Ghosts were not only present in folklore but also in the literature of the time. Victorian literature is replete with ghost stories and tales of the supernatural. Writers like Charles Dickens and M.R. James incorporated ghostly elements into their works. These stories often explored themes of unresolved grief, guilt, and the lingering impact of the past on the present.
The Lawyer and the Ghost by Charles Dickens is a light-hearted and humourous use of the ghost. A ghost appears in a room where the lawyer is staying and the lawyer simply tells it that it can go and haunt somewhere nicer. The ghost responds by doing just that - a ghost that does as it’s told!
Magic and Spiritualism
The Victorian era was a time when spiritualism and an interest in the supernatural held a significant place in society. This fascination with the occult and the belief in communication with the spirit world was reflected in both folklore and literature. Algernon Blackwood's "Smith: An Episode in a Lodging House" is a short story that exemplifies this fascination with magic and spiritualism.
In this story, Blackwood introduces the character of Smith, a lodger in a boarding house who has a mysterious and enigmatic presence. The other residents soon become aware of his peculiar behaviours, such as late-night incantations and strange smells. As the story unfolds, the other residents of the lodging house grow increasingly curious and disturbed by Smith's activities. They come to believe that he is involved in some form of spiritualism or magic, attempting to communicate with otherworldly entities.
The story creates an atmosphere of unease and suspense. It explores themes of the unknown, the supernatural, and the blurred boundaries between the living and the dead.
While Blackwood's story doesn't offer a definitive resolution or clear explanation, it highlights the Victorian fascination with the occult and the mysteries of the spirit world. The character of Smith embodies the idea of a spiritualist practitioner or magician who seeks to bridge the gap between the living and the dead, a theme that was prevalent in Victorian literature and folklore. It captures the sense of uncertainty and fear surrounding these practices, making it a perfect example of how the Victorian era's interest in magic and spiritualism found its way into horror literature.
RAVENS
Ravens have a long and storied history in folklore and mythology, and in the 1800s, they continued to play a significant role in the popular imagination. In many cultures, the raven is seen as a symbol of wisdom and intelligence, but it is also associated with death and the underworld, making it a fascinating and complex figure in folklore.
In many cultures, ravens are often seen as tricksters, using their wit and cleverness to outsmart their opponents. Native American cultures, such as the Haida people of the Pacific Northwest, depict ravens as trickster figures capable of transforming into different forms.
In contrast, ravens are also associated with death and the underworld in many cultures. In Ancient Greek mythology, Apollo sent a white raven to spy on his lover, Coronis, and when the raven brought back news of her infidelity, Apollo turned its feathers black as punishment, banishing it to the underworld. In Celtic folklore, the raven is linked to the Otherworld, a mystical realm of the dead and the supernatural.
Despite their associations with death, ravens are also seen as symbols of rebirth and renewal. In Norse mythology, ravens are associated with the goddess Hel, who rules over the realm of the dead. This connection between ravens and the cyclical nature of life and death highlights their dual role in symbolism.
One of the most famous literary examples of ravens in Victorian horror literature is Edgar Allan Poe's poem "The Raven," published in 1845. In this haunting narrative poem, the raven serves as a central symbol, embodying both sorrow and mystery.
The poem's protagonist, who is grieving the loss of his love, Lenore, is visited by a talking raven. The raven repeatedly utters the word "Nevermore," causing the protagonist to sink further into despair as he interprets the raven's response as an omen of unending sorrow.
The poem explores themes of grief, loss, and the supernatural, employing the raven as a symbol of death and an embodiment of the protagonist's torment. The poem captures the fascination with these birds' enigmatic and eerie qualities, emphasizing their enduring place in Victorian horror literature.
In Closing
The belief in changelings during the Victorian era was far more than just folklore. It was a manifestation of the deep-seated fears and anxieties of the time, and it bridged the gap between the known and the unknown. Through its influence on horror literature, it continues to haunt our imaginations, reminding us of the power of the past to shape our understanding of the mysterious and the uncanny.
Ghosts in Victorian folklore and literature served as a bridge between the living and the dead, offering comfort and closure in a society steeped in grief. The belief in spirits and the supernatural was a reflection of the profound impact of loss and the yearning to connect with the departed, making it a central theme in both the stories of the time and the folklore that inspired them.
The raven’s role in folklore and mythology in the 1800s is a testament to its enduring popularity and importance in human culture. Whether seen as a trickster, a symbol of wisdom, or a harbinger of death, the raven is a complex and fascinating figure that continues to captivate our imaginations. Its dual nature, as both a creature of darkness and a symbol of renewal, speaks to the complexity of the human experience and reminds us of the importance of balance and perspective in our lives.