📚18th and 19th Century Literature Unit 4 – Gothic Literature

What's Gothic Literature?

• Literary genre that emerged in the late 18th century characterized by elements of fear, horror, death, and romance
• Often features dark and picturesque scenery, startling and melodramatic narrative devices, and an overall atmosphere of exoticism, mystery, and dread
• Explores the dark side of human nature, including taboo topics like murder, suicide, and incest
• Frequently set in old, decaying castles or mansions with secret passages, dark corridors, and hidden rooms (remote locations)
• Portrays supernatural beings or monsters, such as ghosts, vampires, werewolves, and zombies
• Uses suspense, psychological intensity, and emotional extremes to create a sense of terror or horror in the reader
• Reflects the fears and anxieties of the time period, including the French Revolution, the Industrial Revolution, and the advancement of science and reason

Key Features of Gothic Novels

• Gloomy, decaying setting in a castle, mansion, monastery, or other remote location
• Atmosphere of mystery, suspense, and dread
• Supernatural or inexplicable events, such as ghosts, curses, prophecies, dreams, and visions
  • Often includes a demonic or monstrous figure, such as a vampire, werewolf, or created being (Frankenstein's monster)
• Emotional extremes and excess, including fear, anger, sorrow, and passion
• Women in distress or danger, often threatened by a powerful, tyrannical male figure
• The metonymy of gloom and horror, which symbolizes the dark aspects of human nature and society
• Exploration of the subconscious mind, including repressed desires, fears, and traumatic experiences
• Use of a frame narrative or multiple narrators to create a sense of ambiguity and unreliability

Famous Gothic Authors and Works

• Horace Walpole, "The Castle of Otranto" (1764) - considered the first Gothic novel
• Ann Radcliffe, "The Mysteries of Udolpho" (1794) and "The Italian" (1797)
• Matthew Lewis, "The Monk" (1796)
• Mary Shelley, "Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus" (1818)
• Edgar Allan Poe, "The Fall of the House of Usher" (1839), "The Tell-Tale Heart" (1843), and other short stories
• Bram Stoker, "Dracula" (1897)
• Robert Louis Stevenson, "Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde" (1886)
• Daphne du Maurier, "Rebecca" (1938) - a 20th-century example of the Gothic genre

Historical Context and Influences

• Emerged in the late 18th century as a reaction against the Age of Enlightenment and the emphasis on reason and order
• Influenced by the Romantic movement, which valued emotion, imagination, and individualism
• Reflected the social and political upheavals of the time, such as the French Revolution and the Industrial Revolution
  • The French Revolution (1789-1799) challenged traditional authority and hierarchy, creating a sense of instability and fear
  • The Industrial Revolution led to rapid urbanization, social dislocation, and a sense of alienation and isolation
• Drew inspiration from medieval romances, folklore, and the supernatural
• Influenced by the graveyard poets, such as Thomas Gray and Edward Young, who wrote about death, mortality, and the afterlife
• Shaped by the philosophical ideas of Edmund Burke, who argued that terror and the sublime were essential to human experience and artistic expression

Themes and Symbols in Gothic Literature

• The struggle between good and evil, often represented by light and darkness
• The corruption of innocence and the loss of purity
• The dangers of unchecked passion and desire
• The consequences of transgressing social and moral boundaries
• The doppelgänger or the double, representing the divided self or the dark side of human nature
• The haunted castle or mansion, symbolizing the secrets and horrors of the past
• The labyrinth or maze, representing the complexity and confusion of the human mind and emotions
• The monster or the outsider, embodying the fears and anxieties of society
• The veil or the mask, symbolizing the hidden or repressed aspects of the self
• The mirror, reflecting the true nature of the characters or the distortion of reality

Gothic Subgenres and Variations

• Southern Gothic - set in the American South, often dealing with the legacy of slavery, racism, and family secrets (William Faulkner, Flannery O'Connor)
• Victorian Gothic - set in the Victorian era, focusing on the dark side of industrialization, urbanization, and social change (Charles Dickens, Wilkie Collins)
• Gothic Romance - combines elements of Gothic horror with romantic love stories (Victoria Holt, Phyllis A. Whitney)
• Gothic Science Fiction - blends Gothic themes with science fiction elements, such as alien invasions or dystopian futures (H.P. Lovecraft, Ridley Scott's "Alien")
• Gothic Fantasy - incorporates Gothic elements into fantasy worlds, often featuring dark magic, curses, and supernatural creatures (Anne Rice, Neil Gaiman)
• Neo-Gothic - modern or contemporary works that draw on Gothic traditions and themes (Joyce Carol Oates, Stephen King)

Impact on Later Literature and Pop Culture

• Influenced the development of horror, mystery, and detective fiction in the 19th and 20th centuries
  • Edgar Allan Poe's detective stories, such as "The Murders in the Rue Morgue" (1841), are considered early examples of the detective genre
  • Bram Stoker's "Dracula" (1897) popularized the vampire as a cultural icon and inspired countless adaptations and imitations
• Shaped the aesthetics and themes of film, television, and video games in the horror, thriller, and suspense genres
  • Alfred Hitchcock's films, such as "Rebecca" (1940) and "Psycho" (1960), draw on Gothic themes and techniques
  • Contemporary horror films, such as "The Haunting of Hill House" (2018) and "Crimson Peak" (2015), continue to explore Gothic tropes and motifs
• Influenced fashion, music, and visual arts, particularly in the goth subculture
• Contributed to the popularization of dark tourism and the fascination with haunted places, ghost stories, and macabre history
• Inspired adaptations, retellings, and reimaginings across various media, keeping the Gothic tradition alive and relevant in the modern era

How to Analyze Gothic Texts

• Identify the key elements of the Gothic genre present in the text, such as the setting, atmosphere, characters, and events
• Examine the historical, social, and cultural context in which the work was produced and how it reflects or challenges the values and anxieties of its time
• Analyze the symbols, motifs, and imagery used in the text and their significance in conveying the themes and emotions of the story
• Consider the psychological dimensions of the characters and their relationships, particularly the power dynamics between men and women, heroes and villains, and the self and the other
• Explore the role of the supernatural or the uncanny in the text and how it contributes to the overall sense of mystery, fear, or dread
• Evaluate the narrative structure and point of view of the text, including the use of frame narratives, unreliable narrators, and multiple perspectives
• Compare and contrast the text with other works of Gothic literature or related genres, examining the similarities and differences in themes, styles, and techniques
• Reflect on the enduring appeal and relevance of the Gothic genre and its ability to tap into universal human fears, desires, and anxieties