Another English Composition assignment to build off of our “This I Believe” essay from a few weeks ago. I had a really fun time with this one and it served to reignite my passion for literature, specifically Gothic literature.
Humans are naturally drawn to all things morbid, corrupt, and morally grey, whether they want to admit it or not. We have seen this over and over again throughout history, especially in literature. The history of books is the history of the human subconscious, and the secret desires and curiosities found within. Akin to all disciplines, we must look to the past in order to understand the present, and subsequently the future, particularly when indulging in a new area of personal or academic research. To do so, it is advisable to study the strongest representations of that new area. There have been several revolutionary literary movements that have majorly impacted the way books are written today, including the 18th century and forward-thinking Gothicism movement, and as literary students, we must be proactive in our understanding of literary history. The core literary elements of Gothic literature have remained virtually unchanged since its conception, and has only grown in popularity, proving it to be one of the greatest literary creations.
Gothicism was a movement first acknowledged in 1764 with Horace Walpole’s novel The Castle of Ortanlo and was a part of the larger Romanticism movement of the late 18th century (Hume 282). The Romantic, and thus Gothic genres were born out of the need to defect away from the close-minded Neoclassic movement that took precedence at the time. The Neoclassicism movement ran from 1660-1798 and worked to imitate the Greek and Roman styles of writing, whose rhetoric focused on logic- and reason-based thinking, leaving no room for matters of the heart (Neoclassicism). Neoclassicism correlated with The Enlightenment period which ran in similar tracks. In breaking away from the rigor of Neoclassicism, Romanticism sought to shed light on the human condition by way of self-expression, celebration of nature, and delving into the human condition. Those who desired an expressive outlet for this revelation of individuality within the darker layers of the world, found their solace in gothic themes. With the division from the mind-over-heart line of thought, early gothic writers, like Walpole, found their stride with creating a highly emotional state for their reader by controlling a haunting setting and harrowing atmosphere, amid their stories of the supernatural, prophetic, and for their Byronic hero and damsel in distress main characters (University of Maryland). An internationally recognized expert in Gothic literature, David Punter states that the three definitives of gothic literature are “the concept of paranoia”, the notion of the barbaric”, and “the nature of taboo” (MacLachlan 23). These combined, are the core literary elements that created this much beloved genre.
To break down and exemplify these aspects, it is important to note that the early contributors to the genre where not well received. Critics made claims that the themes of gothic literature glorified and promoted grotesque and indignant thoughts and actions. The revolt from the church alone was a large driver for the supporters of the Enlightenment era and critics of this new wave, as seen with the reactions to The Monk by Mathew Lewis in 1976 (MacLachlan 10). Anything that did not side with the church was viewed as propaganda of Satan himself. These fanatics saw the discussion of the human psyche and the fascination with life and death as ‘unholy’ and thus wrong. The inclusion of ghosts alone denounced the idea of Heaven, and thus the fear that God instilled in people to ‘behave’ in order to reach ‘Paradise’. Compared against the connecting-to-nature romanticism, gothic writers were seen as less than, even though their ideas and processes where essentially the same. However, the ability for creative expression of the shadow-side of the human condition and ability to explore individual spirituality, gothic writers and readers alike, live among the creation of a fantastical genre that promotes introspection and free-thinking within the confines of a secure medium. The importance of having an outlet to explore fantastical thinking, rather than oppress it, was discussed in The Gothic Imagination by Linda Bayer-Berenbaum. She explained that by creating taboo out of a natural curiosity, only perpetuates the desire for it and its circulation; that censorship fuels the ‘need’ for censorship (12). This was also supported by Robert Harris’ statement in his article Elements of the Gothic Novel, where he states “ghosts, death and decay, [and] madness… provided ways to explore fear of the unknown and what control we have as humans over the unknown” giving us the opportunity to not always fear the scary and unknown, but embrace its existence in relation to out our lives. Regardless of the backlash these authors faced, this movement quickly jumpstarted great works that still hold authority today.
There are countless novels from the late 18th century and 19th century that exemplify the genre, but we will look at two that I feel are the epitome of these themes. The Picture of Dorian Gray is a prime example of gothic literary elements, especially those of high emotions, isolation, madness, and the ‘damsel in distress’ in play. In this 1890’s novel by Oscar Wilde, our main character is a young and gorgeous man of higher class named Dorian who meets a painter, Basil, and his friend Henry. Basil is forced to hide his infatuation for the man as a portrait painting turns into a long friendship. All the while, Henry, with all of his apathy and indifference to others, seeks to submerge innocent Dorian in the world of depravity. In having his senses opened for what feels like the first time, this new Dorian has an epiphany about his youth and beauty, leading him to forge his own curse with his now finished portrait and live a life of what others saw as vulgar, committing several crimes along the way. The Picture of Dorian Gray encompasses all elements of gothic literature, especially the isolation that Dorian puts himself in physically and the emotional and social isolation of a bunch of boys who cannot communicate. As well as the ‘damsel in distress’ element, which in this case is Dorian. The paranoia, supernatural, and harrowing turn of events comes from the curse of his portrait and the affects it casts onto his mental health. This metaphor, and many philosophies discussed throughout the story, explore the connects of beauty and intelligence, and youth and old age. Both of these come with the contemplation between life and death, good and ‘evil’, which is a common gothic topic.
Similarly, The Island of Doctor Moreau by H.G. Wells is an 1896 gothic, sci-fi book follows the main character, Prendick, who is saved from drowning at sea by a strange man and his exotic animal cargo. Having no choice but to go ashore with his savior, Prendick is confronted by an isolated island full of odd creatures and an even odder Doctor, obsessed with vivisection. One day, Prendick decides to snoop a little too far, discovering what it truly is Dr. Moreau has been working on, and all plans to get Prendick off the island come to a halt. He knows too much and thus, can never leave. The isolation and paranoia of being stuck on the island aids in creating the high emotions, and the scientific work of the doctor adds an element of madness, barbaric-behavior, and the supernatural.
At the time of these works, propriety and social order remained monumental in how one conducted themselves and their worth was set. As technology, social structures, and individuality evolved, more people took interest in the ideas of free thinking and became less concerned with decorum. Through this, Gothic literature remained a stronghold for the exploration of self through writing and reading.
Our first contemporary example is a 2022 fantasy novel, One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig displays all of the genre elements of an 18th century gothic novel, despite having just been published. One Dark Window is about an isolated town in a fantasy land, cursed by a deal made between a forgotten king and the Spirit of the Woods. The bargain was for a deck of cards that offers different types of magic to its user, but subsequently caused ‘the infection’ that grants its host magical abilities, but slowly kills them at the same time. Our main character is an infected woman named Elspeth, who has managed to hide her infection and her secret abilities from the current power-hungry king’s genocidal plans to kill all the infected until he can unite these cards and lift the five-hundred-year-old curse on his kingdom. This book clearly demonstrates that the literary elements between our century and the 18th century are still the same and are still creating such spectacular works like this one. All seven core elements (setting, atmosphere, prophecies, supernatural/magic, isolation, high emotions, and damsel/byronic hero) are present in this book, with the caveat that the ‘damsel and Byronic hero’ duo are a secondary duo, rather than the main. One Dark Window presents the modern concerns with bartering power for one’s soul, living with regret, and struggling with the consequences of obtaining personal gain at the detriment to fellow humans.
Our final example of contemporary gothic literature is What Moves the Dead by T. Kingfisher. What Moves the Dead is a short but haunting horror story exemplifying the main genre elements of gothicism in a recently created world, especially the elements of supernatural happenings and its hair-raising atmosphere. In this story, our main character Alex, who has been long haunted by the war, visits a lifelong friend in his crumbling estate when they get word that their friend’s wife has fallen ill in the strangest manner. After their arrival at the estate, Alex soon sees what has their friend terrified for his wife, and his own life. The level of suspense felt by this book is palpable and a strong model for creating the dark, moody, and suspenseful atmosphere that gothic literature aims to achieve, along with the eluding supernatural element of the wife’s affliction. What Moves the Dead is a good example of a contemporary Gothic novel that supports the notion that not all Gothic stories have traditional endings. Hume stated that “the Gothic novel offers no conclusions” and that the goal of a gothic novel is to “involve the reader” and poses them “to consider internal mental processes and reactions” rather than just giving them the solution to the moral conundrum (288). This is another way that Gothic literature sets itself apart from other genres.
By comparing these older novels against modern ones, it is clear that the literary elements of gothic literature have remained virtually the same, supporting the claim that it is a well-rounded and stable genre. However, one could argue that the popularity of the genre in modern times could come from the gothic themes in our lives outside of books. As the gothic genre evolved into the entity it is now, several sub-genres have risen. Horror is a very popular film and book genre and is a sub-category of gothicism rather than its own genre as many tend to think. Since the creation of film in 1878, it only took until 1896 for the first horror films to begin circulating. This launched entire franchises that created adaptations of classic gothic novels into films and the popular merchandise that has gone along with it. Why did these themes become so popular though? While the literary elements have not changed, what is considered ‘gothic’ has.
A 2021 BBC article titled “We are living in ‘gothic times’” made the point in favor of how gothic elements of books can also be found within modern life. This was magnified during the pandemic and has only grown stronger in recent years. The article stated, “it’s certainly tough to rival the age of Covid for gothic motifs made manifest” (Anderson, 2021). This supports the theme that the pandemic set for humans with an atmosphere of death and dread, while going through isolation, causing high-emotions and forced introspection upon us. It could be said that focusing on the grim, causes or perpetuates a depressive mind set, but in discussing the side of things no one wants to talk about, we can work towards bettering ourselves and understanding the struggles of one another. Horror movies not only embody the gothic essence but use it as a tool to bring to life the traumas experienced by many. These films are entertaining and thrilling, but they also touch on topics of mental health, surviving assault, living through near death experiences and the hardships that come with it, all the way to racism and classism. It is much easier to see ourselves within the horror movie and Gothic novel characters, than any other genre, bringing a feel of understanding to the dark sides of the human condition and connection to each other. I do not anticipate this changing anytime soon.
Books never die, and neither does the influence they can have on us. To become a better reader, writer, and student, it is important to study the historical literary movements and their elements, especially when it is something you have a passion for. Literature is all about expressing our inner thoughts, feelings, and experiences and finding connection with our fellow humans by reading their stories and sharing our own. As we have seen, the literary elements of Gothic novels are unabated. Gothicism teaches us that curiosity and interest in the grim side of life is natural and serves as a tool we may use for introspection and to gauge our morals against. There are no wrong answers when it comes to the Gothic novel, and just like a gothic novel, I hope this paper leaves you in contemplation of how these topics reflect in your own internal monologue.
Works Cited
Anderson, Hephzibah. “Why we are living in ‘Gothic times’”. BBC, 14 Mar. 2021. https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20210311-the-books-that-are-channelling-our-fears
Bayer-Berenbaum, Linda. The Gothic Imagination. Associated University Press, 1982.
Cambridge Dictionary. Neoclassicism. Cambridge University Press, 2024, https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/neoclassical
Gillig, Rachel. One Dark Window. Orbit Hachette Book Group, 2022.
Harris, Robert. “Elements of the Gothic Novel”. VirtualSalt, 22 Nov. 2017, https://www.virtualsalt.com/elements-of-the-gothic-novel/?noamp=mobile.
Hume, Robert. D. “Gothic vs Romantic: A Reevaluation of the Gothic Novel”. PMLA, vol. 84, no. 2, Mar. 1969, pp. 282-290. Modern Language Association, https://www.jstor.org/stable/1261285.
Kingfisher, T. What Moves the Dead. Macmillan Publishing Group, 2022.
MacAndrew, Elizabeth. The Gothic Tradition in Fiction. Columbia University Press, 1924.
MacLachlan, Christopher. Introduction. The Monk, by Mathew Lewis, Penguin Books, 1998, pp. 7-24.
University of Maryland. “Gothic Literature in Special Collections.” June 16, 2023. https://lib.guides.umd.edu/c.php?g=1223847&p=8952404
Wells, H.G. (Editor Patrick Parrinder) The Island of Doctor Moreau. Penguin Books, 2005.
Wilde, Oscar. The Picture of Dorian Gray. Edition 10, Sterling Publishing Co., Inc., 2022.
Write. Read. Repeat. 
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