Sensationalism and Scandal: How Penny Dreadfuls Pushed the Boundaries of Victorian Morality

Sensationalism and Scandal: How Penny Dreadfuls Pushed the Boundaries of Victorian Morality

In the heart of Victorian England, a literary revolution was unfolding. The era, known for its strict codes of conduct and emphasis on moral values, found itself challenged by a new genre of literature—Penny Dreadfuls. These inexpensive, serialized stories captivated a wide range of readers, particularly among the working class, offering tales of horror, crime, and scandal that flew in the face of Victorian propriety. Through their shocking content, sensationalism, and disregard for social norms, Penny Dreadfuls became both a mirror and a challenge to the moral landscape of the time.

A Thrilling Escape from Conformity

The Victorian age was characterized by rigid societal expectations, where social class, gender roles, and moral codes were tightly defined. Any deviation from these norms was often met with disapproval. However, Penny Dreadfuls offered an escape from this suffocating atmosphere. Published cheaply and widely in serialized formats, these stories catered to a growing audience eager for new forms of entertainment that didn’t adhere to the staid conventions of mainstream literature.

For just a penny, readers could indulge in stories filled with criminals, outcasts, and antiheroes who defied the rules of polite society. From Sweeney Todd, the murderous barber of Fleet Street, to Varney the Vampire, whose supernatural exploits crossed boundaries between life and death, these stories revelled in sensationalism. They delighted in exploring the underbelly of Victorian society—where class, morality, and law were often turned on their heads. The sensational nature of these tales provided readers with a much-needed outlet for their darker curiosities and desires.

Varney the Vampire--Penny Dreadfuls
Image Courtesy: Mimi Matthews

Pushing the Boundaries of Morality

At their core, Penny Dreadfuls were about pushing the boundaries of Victorian morality. They often depicted violence, criminal behaviour, and themes of sexual scandal, challenging the social conventions of the time. While mainstream Victorian literature upheld ideals of virtue and respectability, Penny Dreadfuls indulged in taboo topics that were typically shunned in polite discourse. For instance, they frequently featured grisly murders, lawless behaviour, and vivid depictions of the supernatural—elements that were in stark contrast to the moral tales often espoused by the period’s more esteemed writers.

The genre’s obsession with crime and corruption was particularly provocative. Penny Dreadfuls brought criminality into the limelight, often portraying protagonists who were morally ambiguous or outright villainous. Figures like the infamous Sweeney Todd, who killed his victims in grisly ways, or the mysterious Jack the Ripper, whose real-life exploits were often intertwined with fictional tales, blurred the line between crime and entertainment. These characters, often presented as antiheroes, symbolized the growing anxiety surrounding the breakdown of Victorian social order.

Sweeney Todd--Penny Dreadfuls
Image Courtesy: MyComicShop

Sex, Scandal, and the Supernatural

Another area where Penny Dreadfuls pushed the boundaries of Victorian morality was their treatment of sex and scandal. While Victorian society clung to an ideal of sexual restraint and modesty, Penny Dreadfuls introduced a more lurid, often perverse form of sexual intrigue. Stories frequently depicted illicit affairs, sexual violence, and forbidden desires, delving into the darker aspects of human sexuality. This open exploration of taboo subjects provided a stark contrast to the sexual repression that characterized much of Victorian life.

The supernatural elements of Penny Dreadfuls also played a crucial role in challenging Victorian morality. Ghosts, vampires, and otherworldly creatures were not only symbols of the unknown but also representations of the fears and anxieties surrounding death, sin, and morality. These supernatural themes, often laden with sexual undertones and unsettling imagery, offered an avenue to confront the deepest fears of the time—fear of death, fear of the unknown, and fear of moral decay. The presence of such eerie and morally ambiguous characters in Penny Dreadfuls pushed readers to question the very foundations of societal norms.

Scandalous Penny Dreadfuls
Image Courtesy: BBC

The Reaction: Moral Panic and Censorship

The sensational content of Penny Dreadfuls did not go unnoticed by the moral guardians of Victorian society. Many critics, particularly those from the upper class, decried these stories as corrupting influences on the working class. They argued that the Penny Dreadfuls encouraged immoral behaviour, desensitized readers to violence, and undermined the moral fabric of society. In response to this backlash, some local governments and institutions attempted to suppress or censor Penny Dreadfuls, viewing them as a dangerous influence on public morals.

Despite this, the genre flourished, resonating with a growing segment of the population that felt disconnected from the moral and social strictures of Victorian life. These cheap, sensational stories provided an outlet for those who wanted to explore darker, more forbidden aspects of life—an indulgence in the forbidden that was both thrilling and deeply subversive.

Secret Service
Image Courtesy: BPSC Library

Legacy: The Enduring Appeal of Scandalous Storytelling

The legacy of Penny Dreadfuls is evident in the continued appeal of scandalous and sensational storytelling in modern media. From contemporary crime thrillers and horror films to television series like Penny Dreadful, the genre’s fascination with taboo subjects, antiheroes, and shocking plots remains a powerful tool for captivating audiences. The Penny Dreadful was not merely a form of escapist entertainment; it was an expression of society’s repressed desires, fears, and anxieties. Its stories, which once defied Victorian morality, have since become part of the cultural fabric, influencing writers and creators long after the genre’s decline.

In the end, Penny Dreadfuls represented more than just cheap thrills—they were a reflection of the hidden desires of Victorian society, a genre that revelled in scandal, sensationalism, and the breaking of moral taboos. In their pages, the boundaries of morality were constantly tested, and readers were offered a glimpse into a world where the darkest impulses of the human psyche were laid bare. Through these stories, Penny Dreadfuls continue to captivate the imagination and challenge conventional notions of morality, even in the modern era.

–Silviya.Y

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