Victorian views of criminals usually assumed that they were poor and from the working classes. Crime was also sensationalised by stories in the press.

The novella reflects the rigid class distinctions that existed during the Victorian era, in particular negative views towards the working classes.

A company that established trade in colonised India. Many British customs and practices were adopted in India following colonisation.

The use of exotic locations, India and the Andaman Islands, adds to the sense of adventure, which would have been particularly true for a Victorian reader.

The descriptions of London as dark and gloomy, and at times dangerous, convey a negative image of Victorian London.