Publication date: Tuesday 2nd March 2010
Murder and Morality in Victorian Britain
'A Suspicious Character' from The Illustrated London News for 13 October 1888 carrying the overall caption, 'With the Vigilance Committee in the East End'.
The fourth lecture in the Glasgow and West of Scotland Branch "Murder and Morality in Victorian Britain"
by Professor Eleanor Gordon and Dr. Gwyneth Nair
The murder of Emile L'Angelier, followed by the trial of his erstwhile fiancée, Miss Madeleine Smith caused a sensation in Victorian Britain. The eternal question has been ‘did she do it?'
Eleanor and Gwyneth , however, have used this classic case to tease out what it reveals about 19th century society, especially social conventions and the use of language.
As their main source, they quoted from the 300 plus letters of Miss Smith to L'Angelier. Their lively readings showed the course of the relationship to give, as Eleanor put it, "a window on inner life" from artless flirtation to a heavy passionate affair.
Post trial press commentary portrayed L'Angelier as an ‘outsider', whereas Madeleine was seen as the victim of external forces. Consequently, society at large felt that conventional morality was upheld.
Eleven questions for 30 minutes after the talk ranged over the case from ‘Was Madeleine Smith guilty?' and ‘What does not proven mean ?' to ‘Was a proper post-mortem conducted?' In short, so many questions raised issues beyond the evening's talk that a further look at the Madeleine Smith case is called for in next year's programme.
Attendance 66
Members of the Glasgow University E. Steampunk Society ( Neo-Victorian )
delighted us by appearing in Victorian dress.
