The gothic literature possesses its own typical features. For instance, the horrible atmosphere, the existence of supernatural, the contradictions of characters, the complicated conflicts of morality and evilness. Chapter 2 The Fundamental Tone of the Gothic Elements in Frankenstein-- The Gothic Aesthetics
The gothic elements fused with the scary in the storyline where anxiety can be seen existing in the dark edges of the type and the locked secrets in back of doors retains on the memory of readers. Pictures that are hard to forget for instance as described by Jonathan Harker in his journal in chapter three "I observed the fingers and foot grasp the corners of the stones, worn clear of the mortar by the stress of years, and by thus using every projection and inequality move downwards with substantial speed, just as a
Victor becomes lost in his studies and decides to remove himself from human society. He lingered in his basement, where “[his] cheek had grown pale with study, and [his] person had become emaciated with confinement” (Shelley 32), therefore Victor loses sight of his responsibilities and the consequences of his actions. Similarly, the monster was “cast... abroad an object for the scorn and horror of mankind…” (Shelley 100), thrown into the world alone, and despised by all it encountered. Turning to Victor, the monster begged his creator to make another of its kind so he could have another being to relate to.
Decadent in social and cultural dualisms, and existing amidst the struggle between idealized conduct and corrupted morals and lifestyles, this literature creates atmosphere necessary for the imaginative conception of the spirits and demons that haunt beyond the
Setting is the key element in Gothic Literature. It displays the different places and architectures that are essentials to visualize Gothic. The setting is highly significant in a Gothic novel because it helps to add horror and fear to its mood and dreadful weakness to its characters. As said by Snodgrass, the settings of Gothic literary works present an extensional symbolic psychological case to its human characters (158).Gothic fictions are usually set in isolated landscapes or highly secured prisons, secret passages or corridors, old castles or ghostly houses, and graveyards. According to Hogle, Gothic areas might be "a castle, a foreign place, an abbey, a vast prison, a subterranean crypt, a graveyard, a primeval frontier, or island, a large old house or theatre. . .
During the late medieval period in Europe, authors used a writing style that reflects the gothic architecture and created horror stories that are still taught to students throughout the world. One author is Edgar Allen Poe. Poe wrote many gothic literatures such as “The Black Cat” and “The Masque of the Red Death”. In each story, there are characteristics that distinguish gothic literature. “The Black Cat” and “The Masque of the Red Death”, both written by Edgar Allen Poe, are examples of gothic horror literature because they include characteristics such as highly charged emotional states, unexplainable occurrences, and isolated locations.
The deviation of family traditions, or in the novel, a lack of parental background may negatively affect the child. Victor’s continuous rejection of the monster fuelled its rage and conquest to rid Frankenstein’s life of all happiness. As a “child” to Frankenstein, the monster’s reaction to being rejected permanently scars him, forever being the testament to his existence. Losing Victor’s acceptance is a loss held closely to the monster, reflecting upon human tendency to reject those dissimilar or unappealing. Because Frankenstein is the monster’s creator, his “God,” his “father,” the monster’s actions, fuelled by anger, creates conflict that leads to both of their eventual deaths, displaying how significantly rejection by a parent can damage a
Furthermore by applying death, the author is able to create an ominous atmosphere. Various key elements can define the style of a story. Faulkner uses atmosphere, emotions, and death to reflect gothic literature in his story A Rose for Emily. These components can add to the feels of a story, in this case, adding horror and
In The Cask of Amontillado and The Tell-Tale Heart, Poe showcases a unique style of writing, rendering exceptional pieces of literature. Both stories are within the genres of horror and romanticism, however, Poe does not conform to these genres, as they were in the 19th century. Poe branches out of romanticism, and with horror, he developed gothic romanticism and pioneered psychological horror. Poe believed that art and literature were the most realistic and accurate depiction of individual human nature. Deviating from romanticism, which would have focused on external depictions of horror, he concentrated on internal depictions of the human mind which reveal a character’s internal struggle and therefore make his depictions more realistic and stylishly accurate.
This subgenre of Romantic Literature uses emotion as a technique to create metaphorical gender coding. By presenting overflowing emotions as a living or animated experience, characters in a Gothic work are given an additional layer of traits. According to Nicola Trott, the sublime is associated with masculinity by providing massive strength and size that induces terror. Sublimity creates terror through obscurity and uncertainty of potentially, irrationally terrible situations, such as murder or rape.
The Gothic Influence Although the word “Gothic” is often associated with supernatural creatures or haunted, abandoned places, the word actually originates from an elaborate style of architecture. The reason that the word “Gothic” has become associated with these ideas of horror and death is because the architecture was thought of the ideal place for mysterious, suspenseful, and dark stories to occur. These types of stories became known as the Gothic genre. The Gothic literary genre often includes elements of fear, death, and strong emotions, and is set in set in a dark or mysterious place.