This was my first English course at the Virginia Military Institute, although
not my first English course at the collegiate level. The most interesting thing I
discovered through this class was the direct involvement of gothic fiction with
historical and cultural truths. The course spoke of human errors in treatment of
women, a national identity crisis, and slavery. My understanding of the personal and
horrific nature of slavery has increased and deepened through reading and
discussing the texts, and through analyzing works on slavery as pieces of gothic
literature.
Throughout high school, my interpretation of fictional, dramatized writings
about slavery was that it was simply part of a cultural heritage that I did not share.
The fiction of it seemed to be a way for people to express a pain that could not be
identified with if one was not black or a slave. Through the lens of gothic literature,
however, stories of mistreatment became about the human experience of horror
and tragedy, not just an isolated group of people. Poe’s story “Hop-Frog” was the
subject of one of my essays, where the midget Hop-Frog is a symbol for the abuses
of slaves. Hop-Frog was not a black character, rather he was small and deformed
and from a foreign country. Through my analysis of “Hop-Frog” I became more
aware of how the characteristics that defined the American slave experience were
genuinely deserving of the title “horror.” “Hop-Frog” is “allegorical commentary on
American slavery since it is set in a generic medieval kingdom” (Knepper). The
horrific traits of slavery as an institution, and of those who perpetuated the system,
are highlighted in “Hop-Frog” in part because of the non-race specific conditions.
“His dwarf character shares all the hallmarks of slaves in the American market...”
(Hop-Frog 1) For his time, this was an intelligent strategy, since racism was still
deeply embedded in the country and his social status as a popular author was
dependent on popular opinion. For a modern audience, the hints left for his time
become glaringly obvious. My essay forced me to consider those qualities
independent of race associations, focusing instead on the torment (Hop-Frog 1),
removal from personal history (Hop-Frog 1), and loss of humanity (Hop-Frog 2) that
slaves suffered.
The story of “The Mulatto” then drove home the points loosely addressed in
“Hop-Frog.” It is a blatant, clear and direct criticism of the tyranny of slavery. The
analysis done in class and the follow up paper made the story personal, bringing to
life the normally stale and generic descriptions of monstrosities. I had become numb
to the pain caused by slavery, with repeated studies of vague horrors. “The Mulatto”
animated such things as the effects of tearing apart a family (Conover 1) and the
twisting of normally good human nature (Conover 2). Seeing the story of this slave
man and viewing it as a piece of fiction based on truth somehow made it more
relatable. As a white reader, I have a disconnect from black literature, so introducing
this man’s horror as that of a man, rather than a black man, made it real to me. I
have read pieces on the African American struggle in high school (“Their Eyes Were
Watching God” and “Invisible Man”) but failed to see them as anything other than a
racial struggle, not a conflict belonging to the horror genre. The lens of gothic
literature brought to life a piece of history, which made learning about the specific
more palatable.
The paper and analysis of “The Mulatto” allowed me to consider the fictional
as reality, but there is no denying the reality of the account of Frederick Douglass.
The build up from class that slowly taught the personal truths associated with
slavery culminated in the class’ analysis of Frederick Douglass’ account of life as an
American slave. It was through this story that a positive element was introduced,
establishing a sense of triumph and successful rebellion. “It was a glorious
resurrection, from the tomb of slavery, to the heaven of freedom.” (Frederick
Douglass 7) The thread of history does eventually lead to liberation, and this
narrative brought the larger story of slavery to a slightly happier ending and a
commitment to the strength of man to endure.
Slavery is not a proud part of the American past, which makes it all the more
important to study. The stories brought to life in gothic literature become stronger
with the conventions of good writing. The future of the gothic tradition is in the
horror film world, which carries the conventions of the past and keeps the attention
of the modern audience.