The White Spectacle: Decoding Collins’ Colorology in The Woman in White

Abstract

Color is a fascinating trope that intrigues a reader to constantly search for meanings in a work of art. Nineteenth century witnessed development of color theories that influenced both painters and writers. Wilkie Collins has a number of works that have premised their plots on different colors. However a deeper understanding of the intention and purpose of Collins’ engagement with them is a field still not explored completely and thus this paper aims to explore the significance and the reasons to the colors’ holding a primary position in his works. A close interpretation of the novel The Woman in White is undertaken to analyze how Collins employs his artistic genius through the trope of whiteness and what more does he convey apart from the literal and visible meanings. The research will prove beneficial in the fields of color psychology and color symbolism and add to the existing scholarship.