4.1 The supernatural and the uncanny

Gothic literature emerged in the late 18th century, exploring dark, irrational aspects of human nature. It challenged Enlightenment ideals with supernatural elements, creating an atmosphere of terror and suspense.

The supernatural in Gothic works serves as a catalyst for plot and character development. It allows authors to delve into the unknown, blurring boundaries between natural and unnatural, living and dead, while exploring human psychology.

Defining the Gothic tradition

• The Gothic tradition emerged in the late 18th century as a reaction against the Age of Enlightenment's emphasis on reason and order
• Gothic literature explores the dark, irrational, and mysterious aspects of human nature and the world
• The Gothic tradition has had a lasting impact on literature, influencing various genres such as horror, fantasy, and mystery

Origins of Gothic literature

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• Horace Walpole's novel "The Castle of Otranto" (1764) is considered the first Gothic novel
• Gothic literature drew inspiration from medieval romances, folklore, and the supernatural
• The Gothic novel gained popularity in the late 18th and early 19th centuries with works by authors such as Ann Radcliffe and Matthew Lewis

Key elements of Gothic fiction

• Supernatural events and beings (ghosts, vampires, witches)
• Dark, mysterious settings (haunted castles, ruined abbeys)
• Atmosphere of terror, suspense, and the uncanny
• Psychological exploration of characters' inner turmoil and desires
• Themes of transgression, forbidden knowledge, and the struggle between good and evil

Supernatural themes in Gothic works

• The supernatural is a central element in Gothic literature, often serving as a catalyst for the plot and character development
• Supernatural themes allow authors to explore the unknown, the irrational, and the fears that lurk within the human psyche
• The presence of supernatural elements challenges the boundaries between the natural and the unnatural, the living and the dead

Ghosts and spectral apparitions

• Ghosts are common in Gothic literature, often representing unresolved past traumas or sins
  • In "The Castle of Otranto," the ghost of Alfonso haunts the castle and seeks vengeance
  • "The Turn of the Screw" by Henry James features ghostly appearances that torment the governess and the children
• Spectral apparitions can serve as warnings, omens, or manifestations of characters' guilty consciences

Vampires and undead creatures

• Vampires, as immortal beings who feed on human blood, embody the fear of the unknown and the threat of the "Other"
  • Bram Stoker's "Dracula" (1897) popularized the vampire as a Gothic villain, preying on innocent victims
  • "Carmilla" by Sheridan Le Fanu features a female vampire who seduces and feeds on young women
• Undead creatures, such as zombies and revenants, blur the line between life and death, challenging the natural order

Witches, wizards, and occultism

• Witches and wizards are often associated with dark magic, curses, and the invocation of supernatural forces
  • In "The Monk" by Matthew Lewis, the character of Matilda is a witch who tempts Ambrosio into sin and damnation
  • "The Lancashire Witches" by William Harrison Ainsworth explores the historical witch trials and the fear of witchcraft
• Occultism, the study of hidden knowledge and practices, is a recurring theme in Gothic literature, often linked to the pursuit of forbidden power

Curses, prophecies, and omens

• Curses and prophecies in Gothic works often foretell the characters' dark fates or the consequences of their actions
  • In "The Castle of Otranto," a prophecy foretells the downfall of Manfred's lineage
  • "The House of the Seven Gables" by Nathaniel Hawthorne features a family curse that haunts generations
• Omens, such as strange dreams, visions, or natural phenomena, hint at impending doom or supernatural influences

Creating the uncanny effect

• The uncanny, as defined by Sigmund Freud, is the unsettling feeling that arises when something is both familiar and unfamiliar
• Gothic literature often employs the uncanny to create a sense of unease, disorientation, and psychological disturbance
• The uncanny blurs the boundaries between the real and the imaginary, the natural and the supernatural

Blurring reality and fantasy

• Gothic works often create ambiguity between what is real and what is imagined, leaving readers uncertain
  • In "The Fall of the House of Usher" by Edgar Allan Poe, the narrator's perceptions are called into question
  • "Wuthering Heights" by Emily Brontë blends elements of realism and the supernatural, creating a sense of uncertainty
• The blurring of reality and fantasy reflects the characters' psychological states and the instability of their world

Doppelgangers and alter egos

• Doppelgangers, or ghostly doubles of characters, represent the uncanny resemblance between the familiar and the unfamiliar
  • In "William Wilson" by Edgar Allan Poe, the protagonist is haunted by his doppelganger, who embodies his repressed desires
  • "The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" by Robert Louis Stevenson features a character with two distinct personalities, one good and one evil
• Alter egos can represent the characters' hidden or repressed aspects of their personalities, often leading to inner conflict

Animating inanimate objects

• The uncanny effect can be achieved by giving life to inanimate objects, blurring the line between the living and the non-living
  • In "The Haunted Man and the Ghost's Bargain" by Charles Dickens, a portrait comes to life and haunts the protagonist
  • "The Oval Portrait" by Edgar Allan Poe features a painting that seems to capture the life essence of its subject
• The animation of inanimate objects challenges the natural order and creates a sense of unease

Distorting time and space

• Gothic works often manipulate time and space to create a sense of disorientation and the uncanny
  • In "The House on the Borderland" by William Hope Hodgson, the protagonist experiences time distortions and travels to otherworldly dimensions
  • "The Haunting of Hill House" by Shirley Jackson features a house with a distorted spatial layout that affects the characters' perceptions
• The distortion of time and space reflects the characters' psychological states and the instability of their reality

Psychological aspects of the supernatural

• Gothic literature often uses the supernatural as a means to explore the characters' inner lives, their repressed desires, fears, and moral conflicts
• The supernatural elements serve as manifestations of the characters' psychological states, blurring the line between the external and the internal
• The psychological aspects of the supernatural reflect the Gothic tradition's interest in the dark recesses of the human mind

Madness and mental instability

• Gothic works often feature characters who descend into madness or experience mental instability when confronted with the supernatural
  • In "The Yellow Wallpaper" by Charlotte Perkins Gilman, the protagonist's mental state deteriorates as she becomes obsessed with the supernatural patterns in the wallpaper
  • "The Tell-Tale Heart" by Edgar Allan Poe explores the narrator's descent into madness, driven by guilt and paranoia
• Madness and mental instability can be both a cause and a consequence of supernatural experiences

Dreams, nightmares, and visions

• Dreams, nightmares, and visions are often used in Gothic literature to reveal characters' subconscious fears, desires, and premonitions
  • In "Frankenstein" by Mary Shelley, Victor Frankenstein has prophetic dreams that foretell the consequences of his actions
  • "Wuthering Heights" by Emily Brontë features characters who are haunted by dreams and visions of the past
• Dreams, nightmares, and visions can blur the line between reality and the supernatural, reflecting the characters' inner turmoil

Repressed desires and fears

• The supernatural in Gothic literature often serves as a manifestation of characters' repressed desires and fears
  • In "Carmilla" by Sheridan Le Fanu, the vampire Carmilla represents the repressed lesbian desire of the protagonist, Laura
  • "The Picture of Dorian Gray" by Oscar Wilde explores the protagonist's repressed desires and the consequences of his moral decay
• The supernatural elements can be seen as a return of the repressed, forcing characters to confront their hidden selves

Guilt, sin, and moral decay

• Gothic works often explore themes of guilt, sin, and moral decay, with the supernatural serving as a manifestation of characters' transgressions
  • In "The Monk" by Matthew Lewis, Ambrosio's moral decline is accompanied by supernatural temptations and consequences
  • "The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" by Robert Louis Stevenson uses the supernatural to explore the duality of human nature and the consequences of repressed evil
• The supernatural can be seen as a punishment or a catalyst for characters' moral corruption

Gothic settings and atmospheres

• Gothic literature often employs dark, mysterious, and foreboding settings to create an atmosphere of terror, suspense, and the uncanny
• The settings are not merely backdrops but actively contribute to the mood, tone, and themes of the works
• Gothic settings often reflect the characters' psychological states and the presence of the supernatural

Haunted castles and mansions

• Haunted castles and mansions are iconic settings in Gothic literature, representing the weight of the past and the secrets they hold
  • In "The Castle of Otranto" by Horace Walpole, the castle itself is a character, haunted by supernatural occurrences
  • "The Haunting of Hill House" by Shirley Jackson features a mansion that seems to have a life of its own, affecting the characters' minds
• These settings often symbolize the characters' confinement, both physical and psychological

Dark forests and wilderness

• Dark forests and wilderness settings in Gothic literature represent the unknown, the untamed, and the primitive aspects of human nature
  • In "Young Goodman Brown" by Nathaniel Hawthorne, the dark forest is the setting for the protagonist's supernatural encounter and moral crisis
  • "Wuthering Heights" by Emily Brontë uses the wild moors as a reflection of the characters' passionate and untamed natures
• These settings can be seen as a projection of the characters' inner landscapes and the presence of the supernatural

Labyrinthine passages and crypts

• Labyrinthine passages and crypts in Gothic works represent the characters' psychological and moral descent, as well as the secrets buried within
  • In "The Cask of Amontillado" by Edgar Allan Poe, the catacombs serve as the setting for the protagonist's act of revenge and the burial of his guilt
  • "The Monk" by Matthew Lewis features labyrinthine passages in the convent, reflecting the characters' moral confusion and the presence of hidden evil
• These settings symbolize the characters' entrapment and the difficulty of escaping their own minds and actions

Storms, mist, and eerie weather

• Gothic literature often uses storms, mist, and eerie weather to create an atmosphere of mystery, danger, and the supernatural
  • In "Frankenstein" by Mary Shelley, the stormy weather reflects the characters' inner turmoil and the creation of the monster
  • "Dracula" by Bram Stoker uses mist and fog to create a sense of unease and to conceal the presence of the vampire
• The weather can be seen as a manifestation of the supernatural forces at work and the characters' psychological states

Supernatural beings vs human characters

• Gothic literature often features conflicts and interactions between supernatural beings and human characters
• These encounters serve to explore the boundaries between the natural and the supernatural, the human and the inhuman
• The supernatural beings can be seen as manifestations of human desires, fears, and moral struggles

Monstrous transformations and hybridity

• Gothic works often feature characters who undergo monstrous transformations or exhibit hybrid natures, blurring the line between the human and the inhuman
  • In "Frankenstein" by Mary Shelley, the creature is a hybrid of human and inhuman elements, reflecting the consequences of transgressing natural boundaries
  • "The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" by Robert Louis Stevenson features a character who transforms into a monstrous version of himself
• These transformations and hybrids can be seen as a reflection of the characters' inner conflicts and the duality of human nature

Seduction and temptation by supernatural entities

• Supernatural beings in Gothic literature often use seduction and temptation to lure human characters into moral decay or damnation
  • In "The Monk" by Matthew Lewis, the demon Matilda seduces Ambrosio and leads him into a path of sin and corruption
  • "Carmilla" by Sheridan Le Fanu features a vampire who seduces and preys on young women, representing the fear of female sexuality and power
• The seduction and temptation by supernatural entities reflect the characters' repressed desires and the struggle between virtue and vice

Battles between good and evil

• Gothic works often depict battles between good and evil, with supernatural beings representing the forces of darkness and human characters representing the forces of light
  • In "Dracula" by Bram Stoker, the human characters band together to fight against the vampire and the threat he poses to humanity
  • "The Monk" by Matthew Lewis features a battle between the forces of good and evil, with the protagonist caught in between
• These battles can be seen as a reflection of the characters' inner moral struggles and the fight against the darkness within themselves

Questioning the nature of humanity

• The interactions between supernatural beings and human characters in Gothic literature often raise questions about the nature of humanity and what it means to be human
  • In "Frankenstein" by Mary Shelley, the creature's struggle for acceptance and understanding challenges the boundaries of what constitutes humanity
  • "Wuthering Heights" by Emily Brontë uses the supernatural to explore the depths of human passion, cruelty, and the consequences of social and moral transgressions
• The supernatural elements serve to highlight the complexities of human nature and the thin line between the human and the inhuman

Impact of the supernatural in Gothic literature

• The supernatural in Gothic literature has had a lasting impact on readers and the literary world
• The use of supernatural elements allows authors to explore the darker aspects of human nature, challenge societal norms, and evoke strong emotional responses
• The supernatural in Gothic works continues to influence and shape the horror, fantasy, and mystery genres

Evoking terror and horror in readers

• Gothic literature uses the supernatural to evoke feelings of terror and horror in readers, tapping into primal fears and the unknown
  • Works like "The Tell-Tale Heart" by Edgar Allan Poe and "The Turn of the Screw" by Henry James create a sense of unease and fear through the use of supernatural elements
  • The supernatural allows authors to explore the psychology of fear and the impact it has on characters and readers alike
• The evocation of terror and horror serves to engage readers emotionally and create a visceral response to the works

Challenging Enlightenment rationality and order

• The supernatural in Gothic literature challenges the Enlightenment ideals of rationality, order, and the primacy of reason
  • Works like "The Castle of Otranto" by Horace Walpole and "The Monk" by Matthew Lewis subvert the idea of a rational, orderly world by introducing supernatural elements
  • The supernatural represents the irrational, the chaotic, and the uncontrollable aspects of human experience
• By challenging Enlightenment rationality, Gothic literature explores the limitations of human understanding and the power of the unknown

Exploring forbidden knowledge and secrets

• Gothic works often use the supernatural to explore the consequences of pursuing forbidden knowledge and uncovering secrets
  • In "Frankenstein" by Mary Shelley, Victor Frankenstein's pursuit of the secret of creating life leads to disastrous consequences
  • "The Picture of Dorian Gray" by Oscar Wilde uses the supernatural to explore the consequences of Dorian's pursuit of eternal youth and the corruption of his soul
• The exploration of forbidden knowledge and secrets reflects the Gothic tradition's interest in transgression and the dangers of crossing moral and natural boundaries

Subverting societal norms and conventions

• The supernatural in Gothic literature often serves to subvert and challenge societal norms, conventions, and taboos
  • Works like "Carmilla" by Sheridan Le Fanu and "The Monk" by Matthew Lewis use the supernatural to explore themes of sexuality, gender, and power
  • "Wuthering Heights" by Emily Brontë uses the supernatural to challenge the conventions of love, class, and social order
• By subverting societal norms, Gothic literature reflects the anxieties and tensions of the times and provides a space for the exploration of alternative perspectives and desires