Through the voices and opinions of different characters the reader becomes aware of important issues of the day, including the Reform Bill of 1832, the beginnings of the railways, and the state of contemporary medical science.
小说中的众多角色通过自己的声音传达出各自不同的观点，让读者了解到那时的一些重要的事件，如1832年改革法案、铁路时代的开端以及当代医疗科学的发展状况。