Discussion of Victorian Utilitarianism in Pitt's the String of Pearls or the Fiend of Fleet Street

Sutandio, Anton (2020) Discussion of Victorian Utilitarianism in Pitt's the String of Pearls or the Fiend of Fleet Street. Dialektika: Jurnal Bahasa, Sastra, dan Budaya, 7 (1). pp. 32-45. ISSN 2798-1371

	Text 11. Discussion of Victorian Utilitarianism_lengkap.pdf Download (1846Kb)
	Text 11. Turnitin_Discussion of Victorian Utilitarianism.pdf Download (3693Kb)

Abstract

This article discusses a melodrama written by George Dibdin Pitt entitled The String of Pearls or The Fiend of Fleet Street (1847) with a focus on critique of Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill’s concept of utilitarianism which is reflected in this literary work. Although written in the middle of the 19th century, the tragic story of Sweeney Todd is timeless as the social criticism in it is very striking and is still relevant to this contemporary era. This research is a qualitative study that shows how the literary work reflects the dominant philosophical thought at that time and the basic ideas of the English Victorian era. The findings show that this work succeeds in contesting utilitarianism as an ethical philosophy on the one hand, and political philosophy on the other hand, through its two main characters. It is also concluded that the modernity of the English Victorian era reflects paradoxical values shown through the society and events at that time. That era, which seems to be "Gilded Age-like," shows the imbalance of development between industrial and technological advancement and the prosperity of society.

Item Type:

Article

Contributors: