Over Arching Elements of Gothic that you need to know!
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The symbolism of light and dark (ooohhhh!!! Scary stuff, don’t go out there!)
Significant use of setting (do not go to that ruined castle in the middle of the woods you
fool!)
A narrative priority is to instil fear in the reader. (best keep the light on)
A focus on the influence of the past (not that old ghost again)
Clear gender roles. Dominant male and subjugated female character (yes you women are
victims, surprise surprise)
A distinct blurring of reality. The supernatural. (are you awake or are you dreaming, nobody
knows)
Characters often exhibit certain psychological traits. (Are you mad, sir?)
Elements of Gothic Setting.
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Religious buildings such as cathedral’s and abbeys feature prominently
Crypts, graveyards, prisons, forests. Although these buildings and places feature
prominently, do not discount common buildings such as office blocks or train stations. The
general style of the building is important – 18C neo-classical. Lots of gargoyles, grotesque
carvings and the like. The thing to remember is that the locations are wild, dark, and exotic
and play a significant part in developing the narrative – (Don’t go down that tunnel, John !)
So how does the setting play a part in developing the narrative then? A few suggestions:
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The chase and pursuit through the castle, church, graveyard etc,
The objects and places that appear may have a certain connotation – ‘Vaults’, ‘caverns’
‘subterraneous’ all have connotations of depth, physical as well as emotional. Whereas
words such as ‘church’ ‘altar’ ‘convent’ carry a moral opposition of darkness and evil.
Mystery and suspense created by ‘the Secret Passage’
An ideas of imprisonment or a sense of being trapped somewhere
The sense of being lost in a ‘labyrinth’
And of course use of the pathetic fallacy to ascribe emotion to characters.
The setting is also linked to the protagonists suffering – in a sense the setting’s turmoil
reflect the inner psychological demons of the main characters in the story.
The Gothic Protagonist.
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Satan – yes the devil himself! Well Milton’s devil anyway. Dr Frankenstein, who you will
study, is also deemed a Gothic Hero. Here are some characteristics to get you started:
A degree of tragic stature – he is who he is because of some unforeseen, tragic event.
A high social rank
Always seem to be foreshadowed by doom – cheer up son!
Influenced by the past – move on!
Hugely contrasting aspects of character – I’m a lover not a fighter – Uhm , actually you are
both you crazy man!
The possession of considerable powers, both natural and at time supernatural – oooh!
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A striking physical presence – even if he looks like an animal the ladies usually see him as fit
– yes you heard it here!
A strong sexual element – Grrrr!
Driven by something that consumes him – a modern day Man Utd fan!
A connection with the exotic – probably been to Magaluf.
Sometime association with something bestial or not human – werewolves and the like.
Female characters in Gothic Texts.
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The trembling innocent victim – I will escape into the dark forest and immediately trip over a
loose branch.
The predator – the femme fatale – the shameless and dangerous predator. Black dress, red
lipstick, ridiculous cleavage, a sexual threat. Though often punished for transgressions.
Gothic stories often play out a battle of the sexes.
Females are seen as a device to heighten terror or express feeling.
The pursued maiden can be seen to be balanced by the femme fatale.
The pursued maiden can be seen to be trying to escape the paternalistic world
The femme fatale can be used to explore an empowered woman no longer willing to
conform to men’s desires.
A dominating father can be to blame for a daughter’s actions, so can monstrous mother.
Ways of approaching Gothic Texts:
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Marxist readings – The corrupt aristocracy, points out faults in the feudal/industrialised
world. Fearful on science and new ideologies
Religious readings – A corrupt church, an opposition between creationism and evolution, or
the supernatural. Usurping God, or trying to ascertain his powers.
My favourite psychological readings!!
The power and appeal of the irrational – can it be explained!
Dreams – are they real, do they mean something.
The control and suppression of illicit desires – is this possible in humanity
The mixed responses to sexual activity
The feelings of guilt
The complex relationship between parents and children
The double – double characters, double personalities.
Narrative Structures
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Life and death – Civilisation and barbarism, the domestic and the wild, the natural and
supernatural, the real and the imaginary, reason and passion.
The use of multiple-narrators
The problematic narrator – at pains to justify their story
The effect of time on the narrative –past events influences the narrative.
The non – chronological narrative.