The Moonstone: Context & Writers Techniques

Context

Brief Biography of Wilkie Collins

Early Life:

• Wilkie Collins was born in 1824, the son of a prominent painter. Raised in a comfortable environment, he spent time in London, Italy, and France. Initially expected to follow in his father's artistic footsteps or become a clergyman, Collins pursued various careers, including law. Early Career:

• Collins developed an interest in writing during his late teens while doing clerical work. His literary career took off in 1851 when he befriended Charles Dickens, who published nearly all of Collins's novels, including The Moonstone, in his weekly magazine All the Year Round.

• Later Career and Personal Life:

• Collins's later works increasingly focused on social issues. He lived with his partner Caroline Graves and had another family with Martha Rudd. Despite health issues and laudanum addiction, he continued to write until he died in 1882.

Collaboration with Dickens:

• In the 1850s, Collins and Dickens acted together in plays and collaborated on various writing projects. Collins gained critical acclaim for his novels Hide and Seek (1854) and The Woman in White (1860), the latter establishing his reputation for intricate plots.

The Novel's History

• When and Where Written: The Moonstone was written in London and serialized from January 4 to August 4, 1868, with its first complete edition published in 1871.
• Initial Reception: The novel was well-received and remains a seminal work in both sensation fiction and detective fiction.

Literary Contexts

Historical and Political Context

• Victorian Era: Set in the mid-19th century, The Moonstone reflects the immense social, economic, and political transformations of the Victorian era. The novel explores issues related to the Industrial Revolution, class mobility, and British colonialism in India.
• British Colonialism: The theft of the Moonstone diamond from India and its subsequent curse are central to the plot. This mirrors real historical events such as the British acquisition of the Koh-i-noor and Orlov diamonds, reflecting the moral and ethical implications of colonial exploitation.
• Social Change: The rise of an economically powerful upper-middle class and the increasingly miserable working class during the Industrial Revolution are depicted through the various characters and their differing social and economic pressures.

Cultural and Social Context

• Sensation Fiction: The Moonstone is a classic example of sensation fiction, a genre characterized by its focus on thrilling, sensational subjects. Sensation novels were popular in Victorian England for their emotional impact and intricate plots.

Philosophical, Religious, and Intellectual Ideas

• Morality and Religion: The novel critiques Victorian morality and religious hypocrisy, particularly through characters like Miss Clack, whose obsessive moral tracts contrast with her lack of true compassion.
• Social Critique: Collins addresses social inequalities and the abuses of the British aristocracy. His later works, including The Moonstone, increasingly focused on these issues.
• Addiction and Mental Health: The character of Franklin Blake's opium-induced memory loss mirrors Collins's struggles with laudanum addiction, providing insight into the impact of addiction on the mind and memory.

Useful Concepts to Be Aware of in the Novel

• Multiple Narrators: The Moonstone employs a first-person, multiple-narrator structure, providing diverse perspectives on the central mystery and adding depth to the narrative.
• Colonial Critique: The novel's portrayal of the Indian Brahmins as noblemen on a mission to restore honour to their nation contrasts with the typical colonial depiction of non-Western characters as mere criminals.
• Sensation Fiction Tropes: Understanding the common tropes of sensation fiction, such as mistaken identity, poisoning, and love triangles, enhances the appreciation of the novel's complex plot.
• Social and Economic Pressures: The characters' interactions and conflicts are deeply influenced by the social and economic pressures of the Victorian era, reflecting broader societal changes and anxieties.
• Historical Accuracy: The novel's setting and events are grounded in historical reality, such as the 1799 Siege of Seringapatam and the British colonial presence in India, providing a realistic backdrop to the fictional narrative.
• Characterization: The detailed and often contradictory characterizations in The Moonstone contribute to its thematic complexity, exploring the nuances of human behaviour and morality.

Writer's Techniques

Structure and Plot

Multiple Narrators

• The Moonstone employs a unique narrative structure with multiple first-person narrators, each providing their perspective on events.
• This structure creates a sense of realism and complexity, allowing readers to piece together the mystery from various viewpoints.

Epistolary Format

• The novel is structured as a series of letters and journal entries, adding to the authenticity and immediacy of the storytelling.
• This format engages readers by making them feel like they are uncovering the mystery alongside the characters.

Suspense and Climax

• The plot revolves around the theft of the Moonstone, a valuable diamond, and the subsequent investigation to recover it.
• Suspense is maintained throughout the novel with red herrings, false leads, and dramatic revelations, culminating in the climactic discovery of the thief and the diamond's return to India.

Language and Style

Realism and Detail

• Collins uses detailed descriptions to create vivid settings and fully realised characters, immersing readers in the story.
• The language is rich with period-specific details, which enhances the authenticity of the novel's Victorian setting.

Irony and Satire

• The novel often employs irony, particularly in the portrayal of British colonial attitudes and the characters' prejudices.
• Collins critiques societal norms and colonialism subtly through his characters and their interactions.

Symbolic Names

• Many characters in The Moonstone have names that reflect their traits or roles within the story.
• For example, Gabriel Betteredge represents the "better edge" of morality and reliability, serving as a trustworthy narrator and loyal servant.

Symbols

The Moonstone

• The diamond itself is a central symbol, representing the greed, conflict, and cultural clash between Britain and India.
• Its journey from India to England and back symbolises the consequences of colonial exploitation and the restoration of justice.

The Shivering Sands

• This treacherous area near the Verinder estate symbolises the murky and dangerous nature of the mystery surrounding the Moonstone.
• It reflects the uncertainty and shifting perceptions of truth as the characters attempt to solve the crime.

Opium

• Opium plays a crucial role in the plot, symbolising the darker undercurrents of Victorian society, including addiction and the lengths to which people will go to uncover the truth.
• The use of opium by characters like Franklin Blake highlights issues of control and consciousness, integral to the novel's resolution.