 Although released to outstanding commercial success, Caleb Williams attracted a great deal of negative reactions.Many saw it as an affront not only to government but also to justice, virtue, and religion.One review from the British Critic in July 1794, stated, “This piece is a striking example of the evil use which may be made of considerable talents…every gentleman is a hard-hearted assassin, or a prejudiced tyrant; every Judge is unjust, every Justice corrupt and blind.” Many critics saw Caleb Williams as having a detrimental effect on society as propaganda for anarchism.