The Black Gang · Theme
Fear of the Other
How The Black Gang develops Fear of the Other.
Foreigners, especially Russians and Eastern Europeans, are depicted as monstrous and inhuman, reflecting xenophobic anxieties about outside influence on Britain.
Where it surfaces
- I: In Which Things Happen Near Barking Creek
The negative portrayal of Jewish characters and the Russian Zaboleff reflects xenophobic attitudes of the era.
- In Which Scotland Yard Sits Up and Takes Notice
The suspected house in Barking is associated with 'Red papers' and Bolsheviks, reflecting contemporary anxieties about foreign radicals.
- VI: In Which an Effusion Is Sent to the Newspapers
Zadowa's fear of his continental associates and the public's suspicion of the mysterious Black Gang reflect anxieties about foreign and unknown elements.
- X: In Which Hugh Drummond Makes a Discovery
The chapter underscores the fear of foreign agents and Bolshevik influence, as the villains are depicted as alien and threatening to British society.