The Picture of Dorian Gray is a novel set during the Victorian Era, more specifically towards the end of it (1886). Well, two years following this, a mysterious murderer, “Jack the Ripper,” killed at least five women. All of the women were prostitutes and were murdered in or near the Whitechapel District of London’s East End. This case is said to be “one of the most famous unsolved mysteries of English crime” (Jenkins). The first murder happened on August 31st, 1888 (Mary Ann Nichols) with the last murder happening on November 9th (Mary Jane Kelly). The other three prostitutes were Annie Chapman (September 8th), Elizabeth Stride (September 30th), and Catherine Eddows (September 30th). There are more murders occurring all the way until 1892 that can be potentially linked to Jack the Ripper. However, it has yet to be actually proven. Jack the Ripper killed these women with a specific trademark: slicing open their throat and mutilating their bodies. Due to this, it is thought that Jack the Ripper has “at least some knowledge on human anatomy” (Jenkins). Jack the Ripper has also been said to have sent the police half of a human kidney from one of his victim’s bodies and has even sent them letters claiming that he is the murderer. He was never arrested, and it caused a huge uproar within society, as murders were very rare back then in that time period. 

It’s ridiculous, absolutely ridiculous. A murderer is on the loose and not a single person has done a darn thing about it! The police can’t track him. Oh, they try. They try but have no such luck. He calls himself Jack. Jack the Ripper. He writes letters to the police, expresses how he himself is the murderer, and they still fail to find the man! It’s absurd, really. Foolish on the police’s part! Absolutely foolish. I bet he’s laughing, at the police, at the rest of us. He must be. I would be if I were him. He could slaughter the whole town and the police still wouldn’t bat an eye. Anyone of us could be next. Sure, five of his victims had been prostitutes, all killed near the Whitechapel District. But who knows? Maybe he’ll have a change in course. Perhaps he’ll kill a man next. Or a child! Oh God, what if he kills a child? I couldn’t bear the thought of it. A little girl or boy with their throat slit, body mutilated. Gosh, it’s awful. Entirely horrendous. They really ought to capture him. They need to, as I don’t feel safe here any longer. I lock the doors, I stay in my room, hidden under the covers of my bed, and yet I still fear he will manage to break in and take me. It’s not a life. It’s not a life at all. And it won’t be until this man is caught.

Jenkins, John Philip. “Jack the Ripper.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., www.britannica.com/biography/Jack-the-Ripper.