The Moonstone - Victorian Society

             How Does Willkie Collins Use Symbolism to Criticize Victorian Society?

             The Moonstone is a British detective novel written in the 19th century. In The Moonstone, Willkie Collins uses different issues to criticize the Victorian Society. In this essay, I will first talk about how Collins uses social differences and racism to criticize the Victorian society, then, I will show how the Moonstone and roses have the power to denounce this society.

             Social differences, racism and judgments are the main and most striking issues that the author used as a critic of the Victorian Society. Indeed, Collins first exemplifies racism with the Indians who are seen as dangerous and savage by the upper English class. Then, Ezra Jennings, a very important character in this novel, faces judgments due to his mixed origins and appearance, for example with Betteredge who does not respect him or his ideas although they are from the same class. Nevertheless, Collins used a character like Jennings working in for the Victorian Society to withdraw the slavery and colonialism, as Ezra is appreciated from both Blake and Rachel. Collins also chose to represent social differences and judgments through the character of Drusilla Clack who is Christian and who judges every other people who aren’t Christian. Her obsession for Christianity leads to a negative image of her. Collins therefore shows throughout this novel that these characters judgments are put subjectively.

             The Moonstone denounces the Victorian Society. The reader can have many different perspectives of why Collins used the diamond to criticize the British upper class. First, although the gem represents the Indian wealth, the British wrongfully steal it and make it theirs. Hence the irony of this book, because the Indians try to take back what is theirs and instead are seen as thieves. Moreover, as the Moonstone is given to Rachel for her Birthday, we could think that it represents Rachel’s innocence, and virginity. Rachel unwittingly becomes a thief as she is in possession of a stolen diamond and Collins probably does that on purpose to show the irony and criticism of the book.

             Sergeant Cuff in this novel, has a strong bias for roses which has once again many significations. Roses can be associated with love, which is a present topic in the novel. Love and marriage are depicted throughout the entire book with Rachel Verinder and Franklin Blake, and Lady Verinder and John Verinder’s relationship. Betteredge starts the book by talking about love and specifically about weither or not two people are able to get along well after getting married. Also he explains that, to him, Lady Verinder was subordinated to her husband to please his needs and desires which denounces the condition of women in the 19th century society:

             Sir John Verinder. An excellent man who only wanted somebody to manage him; and, between ourselves, he found somebody to do it, and grew fat on it, and lived happy and died easy on it.

         (p.17)

Between Blake and Rachel, there is the idea of altruism. Indeed, Rachel wants Blake to stop his tobacco which he does although it makes him sick. The house of the Verinder’s, surrounded by roses, could represent Britain, moreover the Indians trying to get in the Verinder’s house could be a metaphor invented by Collins to highlight the context : British Imperialism and Indians fighting to get back their independence (independence here is illustrated with the moonstone).

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