Buzz
As my birthday approaches this Monday, I’ve been reflecting on how fleeting life is and why it’s essential to make the most of every moment. To honor this 'life is short' philosophy, I’ve compiled a somewhat somber list (don’t fret—a more uplifting one will follow tomorrow). The Victorians were truly unique, and this list highlights 10 unsettling aspects of their daily lives, focusing exclusively on Victorian England. Feel free to share any we might have overlooked in the comments.
10. Vignettes
The Victorian elite (and eventually the middle class) lacked modern entertainment like television, so they created their own amusements. A popular pastime involved friends and family donning extravagant costumes and posing for one another. While this might sound harmless, imagine your grandmother dressed as a Greek wood nymph, striking a pose on the living room table to applause. Hard to picture, right? The concept is undeniably eerie. Yet, for Victorians, this was a delightful and commonplace activity.
9. Poorhouses
Poorhouses were state-operated institutions designed to house the impoverished, disabled, or mentally unstable. These facilities were often squalid and overcrowded, filled with individuals society had cast aside. During this period, poverty was stigmatized as a moral failing, attributed to a lack of diligence. Inhabitants were frequently compelled to work to offset their living expenses, and it was common for multiple families to coexist in cramped, communal spaces. For many in the Victorian era, life in a poorhouse represented the lowest point one could reach.
8. Pea-Soupers
Victorian London was notorious for its pea-soupers — dense fogs that severely limited visibility. These fogs resulted from a mix of the River Thames' natural mists and the coal smoke that fueled Victorian households. London had battled these pea-soupers for centuries; as early as 1306, King Edward I prohibited coal fires due to the smog. The crisis peaked in 1952 when 12,000 Londoners died from smog-related causes, prompting the government to enact the Clean Air Act and establish smog-free zones. The eerie, fog-laden atmosphere of Victorian London, often depicted in literature and films, added to the sinister ambiance that enabled figures like Jack the Ripper to operate.
7. Food
English cuisine can be unsettling, particularly during the Victorian era (note: modern England is renowned for its exceptional food). Victorians had a penchant for offal, consuming nearly every part of an animal. While this might excite food enthusiasts, the thought of dining on brains or heart can be off-putting for most. A notable Victorian delicacy was turtle soup, prized for the green, gelatinous fat of the turtle, which flavored the soup made from its slow-cooked, fibrous meat. Due to declining turtle populations, this dish is rare today, though it remains available in some parts of America where turtles are abundant.
6. Surgery
During the Victorian era, surviving surgery was a matter of luck, as one in four patients died post-operation. Having a skilled surgeon and a sterile operating room was rare. Anesthesia and post-surgery pain relief were nonexistent, and operations were prolonged due to the absence of electric tools. Victorian surgery wasn’t just eerie—it was downright terrifying. Here’s a glimpse into a typical procedure:
A group of nervous medical students anxiously glance at their pocket watches as two of Liston’s assistants, known as ‘dressers,’ firmly grip the shoulders of the writhing patient.
The fully awake man, already suffering from the agony of a severely broken leg caused by a fall between a train and the platform at King’s Cross, stares in terror at the array of knives, saws, and needles laid out beside him.
Liston presses his left hand against the patient’s thigh, swiftly picks up his preferred knife, and makes a single, deep cut. A dresser quickly tightens a tourniquet to control the bleeding. As the patient screams in agony, Liston sets the knife aside and grabs a saw.
With an assistant holding the bone in place, Liston begins to saw. Suddenly, the anxious student tasked with steadying the leg realizes he’s holding its full weight. With a shudder, he drops the severed limb into a box filled with sawdust. [Source]
5. Gothic Novel
How could a list like this exclude the gothic novel, a literary genre blending horror and romance? The Victorian era gifted us timeless works of terror such as Dracula and The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. Even American authors like Edgar Allen Poe contributed some of the finest gothic literature of the time. Victorians mastered the art of fear, delivering it with unparalleled grandeur. These classics remain foundational to modern horror, their ability to captivate audiences undiminished.
4. Jack the Ripper
In the late Victorian period, London was gripped by the horrors of Jack the Ripper. Using the city’s infamous pea-soupers as a cloak, the Ripper brutally murdered at least five women, all of whom were prostitutes in the East End. The growing circulation of newspapers at the time amplified the killer’s infamy, highlighting both the brutality of the crimes and the police’s inability to apprehend him. With the Ripper’s identity still a mystery, the case has evolved into a mix of historical inquiry, folklore, and pseudohistory. Numerous authors, historians, and amateur sleuths have proposed theories about the killer and his victims. Explore the most intriguing suspects in our Top 10 Interesting Jack The Ripper Suspects.
3. Queen Victoria
Queen Victoria undoubtedly deserves the top spot on this list, as the era bears her name, and she was undeniably eerie. After her husband Albert’s death in 1861, she entered a prolonged period of mourning, wearing black attire until her own demise decades later. She withdrew from public life, rarely visiting London, and her isolation earned her the nickname “Widow of Windsor.” Her somber reign cast a shadow over Britain, and her pervasive influence made the entire period feel unsettling. Ironically, despite her aversion to black funerals, London was adorned in purple and white when she passed away.
2. Memento Mori
Memento mori, a Latin phrase translating to 'Remember you must die,' was a significant concept in the Victorian era. Photography was then in its infancy and prohibitively expensive. When a family member died, it was common to have a photograph taken of the deceased, often posed with living relatives. For many Victorians, this was their only opportunity to be photographed. In these post-mortem images, lifelike effects were sometimes achieved by propping the eyes open or painting pupils onto the print, with rosy tints added to the cheeks. Adults were typically posed in chairs or supported by specialized frames, while flowers were a frequent prop. In the photo above, the stillness of the deceased girl contrasts starkly with the slight blur of her parents, caused by their movement during the long exposure, making the image even more haunting.
1. Freak Shows
Freak shows were exhibitions showcasing oddities, or 'freaks of nature,' including individuals with extreme height differences, intersex traits, or rare medical conditions, all designed to shock and captivate audiences. Among the most famous figures was the Elephant Man, depicted above. Joseph Carey Merrick (5 August 1862 – 11 April 1890), an Englishman, earned this moniker due to his severe physical deformities caused by a congenital disorder. His left side was grotesquely enlarged and misshapen, forcing him to wear a mask for much of his life. Victorian freak shows undeniably rank among the era’s most unsettling societal phenomena.
