Vice - gambling, depravity, dissipation


In the nineteenth century "vice" was a loose term for various immoral habits including gambling, sexual depravity, and dissipation (drinking, drug-taking, neglecting duty for pleasure, etc).  Often the vice is "offstage", such as in A Poor Gentleman, where we learn that a rich squire's heirs have died because of their immoral behaviour - probably a reference to syphilis.

In the Oliphant works listed below, vicious behaviour has an impact on the story line, though it is usually not the main theme of the story.  There is an unforgettable scene in Innocent, depicting the seemingly high-minded Frederick letting loose in Paris.

(See also the theme Alcoholism.)


Merkland, a Story of Scottish Life   [Self-Sacrifice]
Novel1850
Ailieford, a Family History   [The Lost Love]
Novel1853
Innocent, a Tale of Modern Life
Novel1873
Wallyford
Short Fiction1880
The Wizard's Son
Novel1882
The Lady's Walk
Novel1882
Elinor
Short Fiction1884
A Poor Gentleman
 Novel1886
A Visitor and His Opinions
Short Fiction1893

Site creator / administrator:   Joan Richardson           Email:   jxoliphant@gmail.com             © 2014     All rights reserved