The world of literature is full of madness. It contains dozens of genres and will continue to do so by adding new ones in the future. Today I would like to analyse one of these genres with you.
Gothic is a genre that has periodically grown in importance and has created its own unique readers and audiences, both in novels and on screen. It has given rise to famous writers and memorable films.
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Gothic literature is a genre that evokes intense emotions and is characterised by the combination of elements usually associated with mystery, horror and the supernatural. It originated in the 18th century and embodies the imagination and dark background of that period. Let’s look at the basic elements it contains.
The stories are usually set in dark, mysterious and eerie places such as castles, old mansions or ancient ruins. The setting adds to the atmospheric tension. A gloomy structure is in the foreground.
The genre places great emphasis on creating an atmosphere of foreboding and suspense. Writers use descriptive language to create a sense of fear and unease. The origin or veracity of the frightening situation is not immediately apparent. Even after it is presented to the reader, it still has an impact and makes the reader question its reality. The different structure emphasises the need to consider the terrifying source (be it a person, a monster, an ominous place or a rumour) even after it is revealed, and keeps it alive in the mind. This keeps us on our toes throughout the work.
With the impetus of fiction, they often include paranormal or otherworldly elements such as ghosts, monsters, vampires or other supernatural phenomena that defy the laws of nature. Sometimes these are entirely the author’s own creations, but stories may also arise from the study of local folk tales that have inspired fear.
The protagonist is usually not completely naive and well-intentioned. On the contrary, he can be someone who is able to remain impartial to events and even behave in unexpected ways. This also gives the reader time to question. Does the character really deserve the events that have happened to him (or that have happened to him in the past and left him scarred)? This is where the antihero comes in, and where your question becomes more specific. “Which of two people with bad morals is more right?” You may not get an answer to your question even at the end of the work. This is because it is up to you to discuss it within yourself.
Although we emphasise the macabre aspects of Gothic when we talk about it, love, affection and romance can also be addressed. So much so that there is often someone who is imprisoned, and that person can be the protagonist’s partner, sibling, or someone he is attracted to. This gives him a new purpose. He starts to feel an additional sense of effort to defeat the enemy he is already pursuing. On the other hand, as an unexpected twist in the plot, we can see the captive’s cooperation with the anti-hero. The protagonist is now hopeless and has unleashed another emotion worthy of the Gothic influence. Betrayal, rage and despair.
Speaking of emotions, let’s look at the main ones. In general, there is a negative and pessimistic atmosphere, which is not difficult to predict. Misery can dominate people’s lives. This can cause them to become lacklustre and spiritless. On the other hand, there are details of all this gloom in order to present a dramatised mood. This means that existential reflections and metaphors can take place. In general, the protagonist lives this inwardly, according to the results of the situations he encounters, and does not reflect it much outwardly, that is, to the reader. He wants you to think like him. To understand him, you have to feel like him. The author achieves this by creating a good monologue and by presenting the events (and their consequences) in a good way.
It is tragic, bloody and extraordinary. Absurd and horrible situations that occur suddenly can be quite normal. Remember that you are a partner in a work that is far from usual, it would not be right to expect banality.
Gothic literature is dominated by introverted characters, those who play a role in a mysterious way, events marked by a lot of symbolism and mystery.
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So let’s continue with examples and help you visualise the works you’ve read or seen.
But first, let me tell you something I didn’t know. All types of Gothic works (poetry, novels, essays) are also discussed chronologically, as stated in this detailed and wonderful guide I came across during my research. All other Gothic works are also mentioned. Particular attention should be paid to the word “sublime”, a term used by many other writers, including Edmund Burke, because (if you examine it) you will come across a lot of (pre-Gothic) works that are mentioned before the one I am going to call “the first Gothic novel”. This concept seems to be at the heart of the philosophy and theme that dominates the genre. I strongly recommend that those who love the genre take the time to analyse it.
It seems that the first representative of this genre (of the Early Gothic period, according to the chronology) that we mentioned appeared in the 18th century was “The Castle of Otranto”, written by Horace Walpole in 1764/5. It was a thriller and horror story set in a medieval castle, with ghosts, curses and other Gothic elements.
If we talk about famous works, “Frankenstein” (1818), written by Mary Shelley, is one of the indispensable works of Gothic literature. Moreover, she did something different by including the genre of science fiction and monster-themed horror. She questioned the morality of playing the role of God.
Edgar Allen Poe, one of the most famous masters of the 19th century, also wrote his works with themes of grief and gloom. “The Raven” and “The Tell-Tale Heart” are among his most famous works.
In “The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde” (1886), Robert Louis Stevenson achieved an unexpected effect by involving science. He explored the duality of man and the internal morality of good and evil.
Of course, Bram Stoker’s “Dracula” (1897) is also a must. He took the vampire motif and made it his own in a Victorian style. The castle, stormy weather, blood, sexuality and the clash between antiquity and modernity all contribute to the main theme. The groundbreaking effect he created is still influential today.
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If we take a quick look at the works in cinema, 1922’s “Nosferatu” (an adaptation of “Dracula” and considered one of the greatest works of silent cinema) stands out. Master director Alfred Hitchcock contributed to the genre with his 1940 film “Rebecca”.
On the other hand, Guillermo del Toro is one of the most prominent representatives of the genre today. With 2006’s “Pan’s Labyrinth”, 2015’s “Crimson Peak” and 2017’s “The Shape of Water”, he is recognised as a successful director working in this genre.
Finally, “The Crow” (1994) is also a popular film of the Gothic cinema, with its atmosphere, music, tragedy, extraordinary elements, a main protagonist in a dilemma, symbolism, questioning approaches to the themes of love and death.
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