Exploring Dark Themes in Gothic Literature
Delve into the depths of Gothic literature with reflections on evil, doppelgängers, and the allure of darkness. Discover how this genre weaves tales of the grotesque, mysterious, and fearful, captivating readers with eerie settings and emotionally complex characters. Unearth the essence of the Gothic through its exploration of human nature's shadowy realms and the timeless allure of the macabre.
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Evil Quotation Reflection If the devil doesn t exist, but man has created him, he has created him in his own image and likeness - Karamazov Evil works by dehumanizing the Other Evil is charismatic . . . . Satan in Paradise Lost is so much more attractive, so much more interesting than God . . . the human mind romances the idea of evil Good has a way of boring people TURN & TALK: Which one of these quotations from the text resonates with you and why?
The Doppelgnger Def: A double, an identical replica of a person; alter ego doppel = double + ganger = goer in German The idea behind this is that everyone has a Doppelganger, an identical copy of themselves somewhere in the world. If the person is good, then the Doppelganger will be evil and vice versa. It is even said that if the two should meet, then they will both perish The idea comes from ancient folklore.
The Doppelgnger The entire nineteenth century was often concerned with the concept of a double self or twin , often referred to as a Doppelg nger. This 19th century genre began with a story about a type of double, when Dr. Frankenstein created his monster in 1818. The Doppelg nger was a good excuse to explore a darker side of human nature. It has been argued that Hyde is Jekyll s doppelg nger, which allows Jekyll to murder and steal without feeling guilty.
Gothic Literature Def: Genre in which the author emphasizes the grotesque, the mysterious, the horrible, and the fearful. Example: setting of most horror stories - old decaying mansions in a desolate countryside with cobwebs, bats, strange noises, smelly, dark (all sensory emotions are emphasized). All of this is done to give the reader a sense of the ghostly supernatural world.
Common Elements of Gothic Literature: Remote, unknown yet familiar location (setting) Emphasis of physical things to promote an eerie and ghostly atmosphere Characters are emotionally sensitive BUT maladjusted (usually in appearance) Creatures possess some sort of psychic communication Possibility of returning to life after one is dead
Important British Gothic Writers: Mary Shelley William Wordsworth Lord Byron Percy Byshe Shelley Robert Louis Stevenson
