A Very Wicked Place: A Representation of British Society in Literature

This course dispels the traditional gleaming stereotypes of British society through the review of literary works that emphasize the darkness that lurks below the surface. This course will compare and contrast the magnificence and intelligence of women on the page against the harsh, oppressive reality they lived in until recent centuries; explore how religion has been depicted as both a weapon and a defence; examine the portrayal of disability, illness and social stigma; and show how slavery and forced labour have been utilised to the advantage of conquering nations. Themes explored in this course include the imposing harshness of the class system in modern British society, the portrayal of the confluence of ethnicities and races in modern-day London, as well as the disapproval of unconventional sexuality and repression of sexual desire that highlights the prevailing social conservatism often used against women and homosexuals. Class activities and readings will provide students with an enhanced understanding of British literature, culture and societal processes in a way that they may not have seen before.