Consider the elements of decadence in The Woman In White.

The Victorian era was marked by great advancement in industry, science and aesthetic pursuit. In the 1860s, the Victorians were increasingly concerned about the decadence and the over-refinement of their society. The image of Mr. Frederick Fairlie perfectly embodies this anxiety. Mr. Fairlie is a wealthy man who idles away his days as an invalid. His sole interest is an obsessive appreciation of the aesthetic, which is reflected in his impressive collection of artwork. His character shows that wealth and civilization can lead to indolence, idleness and decadence. It shows that when civilization reaches its advanced stage, it threatens to waste itself away through extreme refinement in taste. Obsessive aesthetic pursuit among well-to-do people can be harmful because it is not socially productive.