Key Motifs in the Gothic
- Strange Places: The Arctic in 'Frankenstein' is an example of this. It is unknown, which is what makes it intriguing for Walton to explore.
- Clashing Time Periods
- Power and Constraints: Especially women and their status in comparison to men. They are shown as vulnerable, naive and in need of saving (of course by a man).
- Sexual Power: Usually obscene men drawn to vulnerable women. Sometimes features incest, violence, abduction. The woman is always submissive to the man.
- The Uncanny: Something that is new but is drawn back to something we already know. e.g dolls and waxworks.
- The Sublime: Elements of nature being overwhelming or terrifying.
- Crisis: The Gothic tries to master crisis that are happening in the real world.
- The Supernatural and Real: There are two types of the Gothic, 1 uses the Supernatural and 1 uses natural elements to describe events that happen.
- Terror and Wonder
'The Castle of Otranto' by Horace Walpole was considered the first 'Gothic' novel, with its first publication being in 1794, and it was the inspiration for the succeeding novels in the genre. Even though to modern culture the Gothic is something we are used to and even admire, at the time in which it was written Gothic horror novels were considered 'trashy'. Thus the authors tended to publish them under pseudonyms so that they wouldn't be associated with trashy literature.
In comparison to modern Horror stories (especially in films) where the twisted normalcy seems to be the typical plot (mental illness/hospitals/asylums), early Gothic fiction was typically set in Castles/Monasteries/Convents (representing religion/Catholicism). Inside them is always a labyrinth where there is no prospect of escaping, which plays upon the idea of claustrophobia and imprisonment. Furthermore David Punter said that they are symbolic of our fear to be locked inside ourselves and explore the deepest depths of our minds.
Landscapes took the place of castles in the Gothic novel, which is where the idea of the sublime came from. It is all about the power of nature, and the monstrosity that it is if you get too close. It's better to look at it from a distance, where you can admire the beauty of the monstrosity- especially in 'Frankenstein' when the titular character comes into contact with the towering mountains.
'The Mysteries of Udolpho' by Ann Radcliffe was deemed too dangerous for young girls due to its content, and Jane Austen's 'Northanger Abbey' highlights that dangers of reading too much into Gothic fiction. Her characterisation of Catherine Morland, especially her thought processes, how she ties everything to the Gothic novels that she has read, and the consequences of doing so, just highlights that there are more important things in the world.
The context in which the Gothic novels were written influences the events in the book. The French Revolution, where the monarchy was overthrown and the King was executed. This public display of gore and terror, inspired the writing of 'The Monk' by Matthew Gregory Lewis. It was a very shocking novel, showing scandal at the heart of religion (something that everyone had faith in), and ending with the Devil taking away the main character. Although in modern culture this wouldn't be as shocking as when it was written, due to there being shocking images/stories in the news or on social media everyday, so it is more accessible than when the novel was written.
The Industrial Revolution caused a crisis of identity for Britain, as the landscape was being changed from very green to very urban. Science and terror was a big terror for the people and the moral consequences of using science. This inspired 'Frankenstein' by Mary Shelley, where she used science as the terror in the novel- especially showing the result of overly abusing science as Frankenstein does in the novel. The Industrial Revolution caused people to flock to cities, where they became overpopulated, especially London, this led to poverty, violence and crime. Charles Dickens used London as the backdrop to his novels, where the fog and darkness created a good setting for a Gothic novel. Penny Dreadfuls were also brought in, bringing the terror to the working class, an example would be; Sweeney Todd, where the scenario could happen in real life.
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