One of the hallmarks of the Victorian period in English history is the ultimate control issued by those who have the skin color and the social status to command such respect from others, leaving those who do not fit the credentials left behind in the dust. Because wealthy white men stood at the top of the social hierarchy pyramid, many of the main characters in the novel fall victim to their own inadequacies according to English customs.

Evangeline is considered “less than,” especially as a poor woman compared to the wealthy Mrs. Whitstone, who feels it necessary to treat Evangeline as a criminal because her stepson could never truly love someone like Evangeline. It is Cecil’s status as a wealthy man that allows him the privilege of ignoring the pregnant woman he claims to love—she is dispensable due to her servant status. Though Evangeline spends her life knowing her place in society, especially when she works for the Whitstones, she does not understand the harshness of human nature and the new hierarchy aboard the Medea. There, her previous status is erased, and she is labeled a convict without rights, making her a prime attraction for the men on board.