Dickens, like many Victorians, feared premature burial, a common anxiety at the time. He researched “safety coffins” designed with bells or flags to alert passersby if the deceased awoke. This fear inspired some ghostly elements in his novels, blending societal anxieties with entertainment. He also wrote about mistaken death, using suspense to engage readers. The fascination reflects Victorian preoccupation with death, the afterlife, and funerary innovation. Dickens’ blend of humor and horror made these themes approachable, turning fear into thrilling narrative devices. Premature burial debates were widely discussed in newspapers, demonstrating public interest. His morbid curiosity intersected with social commentary, morality, and storytelling flair.
Understanding Dickens’ fear gives insight into Victorian society’s relationship with death and medical science.
It shows how personal anxieties can influence creativity, turning phobias into enduring cultural narratives.
Did you know Dickens attended multiple Victorian safety coffin demonstrations to study their mechanisms firsthand?
[National Geographic, nationalgeographic.com]