Caleb Williams, written by William Godwin in 1794, is a pioneering Gothic novel and social critique. The story follows Caleb Williams, a young servant who discovers that his aristocratic master, Ferdinando Falkland, committed a murder years earlier. When Caleb attempts to expose the truth, Falkland uses his wealth and influence to pursue and persecute him relentlessly. Forced to flee, Caleb endures wrongful imprisonment and social ostracism, exposing the corruption of the justice system. The novel powerfully explores themes of power, class inequality, and individual conscience, remaining a landmark work in political fiction and early psychological literature.
