Gothic Novel

The Gothic Novel (1764-1820)

Features of the Gothic Novel

The term Gothic is used relating to Gothic architecture, sculpture or painting of the 12th to 16th century in Western Europe. Being associated with medieval times, Gothic has come to signify novels which have, what is thought to be a typical medieval setting: omens, gloomy or enchanted castles or monasteries, trap doors, dungeons, haunted ruins and secret passages. The characters are typified; dialogues and the characters' reactions are full of platitudes and clichés. Often there is a virtuous protagonist opposed to one or more villains, or a mysterious character whose secret past is revealed. The plot is embedded into an atmosphere of mystery and chilling terror.

Examples of the Typical Gothic Novel

Examples of Gothic novels are:

• HORACE WALPOLE, The Castle of Otranto (1764),
• ANNE RADCLIFFE, The Mysteries of Udolpho (1794),
• MATTHEW GREGORY LEWIS, The Monk (1797),
• CLARE REEVE, The Old English Baron (1786),
• CHARLES ROBERT MATURIN, Melmoth the Wanderer (1820).

The following passage gives an impression of the kind of horror evoked by a Gothic narration:

“As the moon was now at its height, he read in the countenances of this unhappy company the event he dreaded. 'What! Is she dead?' Cried he in wild confusion – A clap of thunder at that instant shook the castle to its foundations; the earth rocked, and the clank of more than mortal armour was heard behind. Frederic and Jerome thought the last day was at hand. The latter, forcing Theodore along with them, rushed into the court. The moment Theodore appeared, the walls of the castle behind Manfred were thrown down with a mighty force, and the form of Alfonso, dilated to an immense magnitude, appeared in the centre of the ruins. 'Behold in Theodore, the true heir of Alfonso!' said the vision: and having pronounced those words, accompanied by a clap of thunder, it ascended solemnly towards heaven, where the clouds parting asunder, the form of Saint Nicholas was seen; and receiving Alfonso's shade, they were soon wrapped from mortal eyes in a blaze of glory.”
(Horace Walpole, The Castle of Otranto, final scene)

Varieties of the Gothic Novel

Gothic in the broader sense has been applied to narratives which, though lacking the medieval setting, create an atmosphere of gloom and terror:

• MARY WOLLSTONECRAFT SHELLEY, Frankenstein; or, the Modern Prometheus (1817);
• EDGAR ALLAN POE, Tales of Mystery and Imagination (1839-46);
• ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON, The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde (1886);

or which display Gothic stock devices, e.g. mistaken or double identity, guilt, suspense and horror:

• e. g. the presentation of Miss Havisham in CHARLES DICKENS, Great Expectations (1861);
• CHARLES DICKENS, Bleak House (1852–53);
• ISAK DINESEN, Seven Gothic Tales (1934);
• STEPHEN KING's Carrie (1974) and Insomnia (1994) are examples of modern horror fiction;
• ROALD DAHL's Kiss Kiss (1959) uses elements of the macabre;
• CHARLOTTE BRONTË's Jane Eyre (1847) and EMILY BRONTË's Wuthering Heights (1847) are gothic romances;
• JANE AUSTEN's Northanger Abbey (1803/1818) ridicules gothic literature by contrasting it with real life; the heroine imagines herself living in a gothic setting.