The Woman in Black: Context (WJEC Eduqas GCSE English Literature)
Revision Note
Written by: Nadia Ambreen
Reviewed by: Kate Lee
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
How this links to The Woman in Black | |
Gender expectations | Jennet Humfrye was marginalised and rejected by her family for having a child out of wedlock. Left without help to raise her child, she was forced to give him up. This circumstance drove her to insanity and became the reason for her spirit to seek vengeance. Mrs Drablow failed in her care of the child and, as a result, became a recluse who died alone. Both women fail in meeting societal expectations, leading to lives devoid of happiness. |
In contrast, the women presented in a positive light are those who are married and have children such as both Kipps’ wives, Stella and Esme, and Mr Daily’s wife. All of these women possess maternal instincts but have minor roles within the novella. This reflects the norms of the Edwardian era; women were to be seen but not heard. | |
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
How this links to The Woman in Black | |
Limitations of modernity | Characters such as Mr Daily have automobiles in addition to their horses and carriages, indicating the transition from old to modern methods of travel. Kipps takes a torch to Eel Marsh House; however, when it breaks, he resorts to using candles. |
The significance of the past | The novel switches from modern to old to link to the theme of the past, highlighting its enduring influence on the present. Characters such as Mrs Drablow and Jennet Humfrye (the Woman in Black) are fragments of the past but they still haunt and influence the present day despite attempts to move on. |
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
How this links to The Woman in Black | |
Limits of science | The protagonist, Arthur Kipps, is a young, educated lawyer who uses fact and logic to understand things. However, upon his arrival at Crythin Gifford, he is faced with fear and an entity that defies scientific explanation. This adds tension and suspense to the novel as he is dealing with something that he is unfamiliar with, making him more vulnerable to the Woman in Black. |
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:
Feature/device | Definition | In The Woman in Black |
Architecture | An important feature of the Gothic genre is the location of the story in order to create atmosphere. Buildings usually include imposing castles, ruins or graveyards | Eel Marsh House is isolated from the rest of the village and can only be accessed by a long causeway. Access to and from the mansion is cut off during certain times of the day, adding to the sense of isolation and fear |
The weather/atmosphere | The weather can be used to create a sinister atmosphere filled with tension. An example of this is fog obscuring a character’s vision or the wind howling around them | From Chapter 1, fog is used to signify Kipps’ isolation from those around him. It also surrounds him in a sinister way, creating a feeling of suffocation and entrapment. This could be mirroring Kipps’ feelings of entrapment in his own mind as well as physically. At certain parts of the novella, it could also signify impending disaster and danger for Kipps |
First-person narrative | A first-person narrator is used when a character is telling the story from their own perspective and uses words such as “I” and “me” | The novella is written as a frame narrative: Arthur Kipps is writing his story in the past tense This is effective as readers are not only able to see the impact his encounter with the Woman in Black has had on him, but also able to experience the same fear and tensions that he experiences |
Sensory language | Using language to do with the five senses to create tension and add to the atmosphere. In gothic literature, characters may hear something they cannot see, for example | An example of sensory language is when Arthur Kipps hears the cries of the child dying as the pony and trap is stuck in the marsh. This increases fear and panic as he is unable to see anything in the distance, leaving him weak and frightened |
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.
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