Sweeney Todd: social context

Historical Context

‘Sweeney Todd’ is set during Victorian London, an era marked by stark economic and social differences.
The Industrial Revolution led to the rise of urban poverty. This hardship serves as the backdrop to the play’s narrative and fuels the despair and hopelessness of characters like Sweeney and Mrs Lovett.

Class Structure

Victorian era is known for its rigid social class hierarchy. The lack of social mobility is seen through characters such as Sweeney who, despite skill as a barber, can’t escape his dire circumstances.
The upper class is depicted as corrupt and exploitative, exemplified by Judge Turpin’s abuse of power.

Morality and Hypocrisy

‘Sweeney Todd’ exposes the hypocrisy of Victorian society, which often upheld superficial respectability over genuine morality.
The disparity between the rich and the poor was justified by Victorian morality, which associated wealth with virtue and poverty with moral failure.
Mrs Lovett’s pies are a literal representation of this surface respectability, appearing harmless while hiding a gruesome reality.

Gender Roles

Victorian gender roles are explored, with Mrs. Lovett’s entrepreneurial spirit notably defying expectations of female passivity.
However, the cruelty inflicted on female characters, especially Johanna, highlights the oppressive patriarchal norms of the time.

Mental Health and Crime

‘Sweeney Todd’ draws attention to Victorian society’s view of criminality and insanity. The era was marked by significant developments in psychiatry, yet mental illness was often associated with criminality.
This is reflected in Sweeney, whose descent into madness and subsequent killing spree mirrors society’s fear of the ‘criminal insane’.

Setting and Atmosphere

The use of a gloomy cityscape exemplifies the bleak societal context, heightening the sense of despair permeating the play.
The overcrowded, dirty streets of London evoke the prevalent urban decay of the Victorian era, reinforcing the stark disparities in living conditions.

Knowing the social context of ‘Sweeney Todd’ is crucial to understanding the motivations of the characters and the overarching critique of Victorian society. It provides a foundation for analysing and interpreting the play’s themes, character dynamics, and social commentary.

Social Context in ‘Sweeney Todd’