The Woman In Black Context edexcel 2-Post-1914-Literature

The Woman in Black historical context

Susan Hill wrote The Woman in Black in 1983. However, the novella is set during the start of the Edwardian era (approximately 1901–1910) and is a pastiche of the Gothic genre. 

However, Hill also used her personal experience of her fiance and child dying as inspiration for her novel. She also used the marshes around the Suffolk coast to inspire the setting of Eel Marsh House. 

Therefore, the ideas in the novella reflect both the views of Edwardian society and her own personal experience. 

The Woman in Black social context

Many of the views held by Edwardian society are reflected in the novella and some of these views are included below.

The role of women

• Women were treated very differently to men during the Edwardian era:

  • Middle- to upper-class women were seen as second-class citizens with men assuming dominant roles in society

  • They were educated differently and possessed fewer rights

  • Working-class women were expected to work while still taking care of their children

• The expectation was for women, especially from the upper classes, to enter into advantageous marriages in order to secure a comfortable life:

  • Upper-class women were expected to conform to the stereotype of the “angel in the house”, underscoring the expectation for purity and domesticity

  • Women were prohibited from engaging in relationships with men and were expected to maintain their virginity until marriage

Modernisation

• The Edwardian era saw a time of great modernisation with many people embracing these changes:

  • Automobiles as well as electricity were becoming increasingly popular

• Modernisation also saw a change in how things were manufactured with machinery being used to increase production and efficiency

• The start of the 20th century saw an increase in the desire for new inventions:

  • The Wright Brothers made their first successful flight in a petrol-powered aeroplane and improvements were made with other methods of transportation such as trains

  • Household items such as vacuum cleaners were invented to improve and revolutionise everyday life

• The RMS Titanic was also seen as a symbol of modernity and progress and many people felt anger and grief when it sank in 1912

Religion versus science

• Broad advancements were observed in the understanding of physics, biology and the natural world:

  • The Edwardian era saw discoveries in the theory of relativity and quantum theory

• Many people attempted to find the balance between religion and science with many “modernists” such as George Bernard Shaw trying to create non-Christian liberal religions:

  • Others opposed these attempts as they believed they betrayed the true spirit of their religion

• This resulted in tension between science and religion as some felt that they were unable to believe in both:

  • Science promoted a belief in the real, logical and tangible whereas religion focused more on spirituality and a belief in the unseen

The Woman in Black literary context

The Woman in Black is a pastiche of a Gothic novel and is written in a similar style to a Dickens novel. Susan Hill was also inspired by Henry James’ novel, The Turn of the Screw. Hill uses many features of the Gothic genre and knowing what these are can help your analysis of the text.

The features of Gothic literature

Let’s explore some of the features used by Hill in the novella:

Eduqas-specific tip

Eduqas examiners frequently point out that while aspects of context will always be relevant to the questions set, there are no context (AO3) marks awarded in the Post 1914 Prose/Drama question.

Be careful, then, to not waste valuable time in your exam by needlessly reciting historical knowledge. Instead, only use your knowledge and understanding of certain contextual influences to add depth to your analysis. This will help you to demonstrate a “perceptive understanding of the text” (AO1) by making “assured references to meanings and effects” (AO2).

Sources:

Hill, S. (2011). The Woman in Black. Vintage Books.