Overtime, the novel has become synonymous with gothic literature. “Frankenstein revolutionized the genres of gothic literature … and horror stories” (Mazzeno). Frankenstein exemplifies powerful Gothic elements such as: environment and weather reflecting emotions, a sense of mystery and suspense, supernatural or otherwise inexplicable events, and an unreliable narrator. One of the most iconic and crucial elements of gothic writing in Frankenstein is the way in which Victor’s environment reflects the dark and lonely emotions he experiences throughout his tragic journey. The use of this literary technique first shows when Victor becomes enthralled in his attempt to create a living being.
Blade Runner Essay Question: In what ways does a comparative study accentuate the distinctive contexts of Frankenstein and Blade Runner? Answer: Through texts composers have been able to highlight and examine key ideas relative to their specific context. A text has the ability to bring to the forefront its contextual ideas in a engaging manner. In Mary Shelley’s novel Frankenstein the context is highlighted through 19th century ideas of Gothicism and Romanticism in an entertaining but concerning manner. Additionally, Ridley Scott’s feature film Blade Runner depicts a dystopian world devastated by capitalism, greed and technology which were primary concerns in the context of the 1980’s.
The first Gothic Element is setting which is a key aspect in the story; the setting is a unique part of the story because it states the time, place, and circumstances in which a novel takes place, and often it is dark and menacing, to reflect the mood of the novel. The setting with the big castle like houses and the weather with all the wretched delusion and the fact the monster was bought to life in the dreary month of November. Setting helps the reader see a form of imagery or foreshadowing because gothic literature has dark and scary atmosphere, the setting helps the reader understand the story more, in the sense that they feel present in the story. In Frankenstein, the setting of the story is very dark, depressing and mysterious, suitable for the setting of a gothic text. This is shown with lines such as, “It was on a dreary night of November” or, “It was already one in the morning”.
Havisham in Great Expectations; where the readers are introduced to a woman trapped in time, and unable to let go. Similarly, our female gothic protagonist is also associated with the theme of time coming to a halt; as she conducts the same routine every day- feast, sleep, feast. This is key in moulding itself into the gothic genre, as the protagonist is detached from civilisation, echoing her entrapment into the supernatural realm. The language here, conforms to gothic literature, as it fulfils the purpose of shocking the reader, instilling fear and poses questions such as "What next?" and therefore plays a large part in initiating the reader's anticipation- a key criteria of a gothic text.
'Jane Eyre' is a narrative of darkness, shadows and eerie light. The female gothic genre, therefore, is a significant element within the narrative in which the author explores a woman's roles within society and her home, which leads to the protagonist’s dangerous attempts to challenge, protest and break free of these roles. Bronte applies the mysterious, the supernatural, the horrific and the romantic; to accentuate this. I will analyse the significance of the gothic forms used in Jane Eyre looking specifically at the use of; gothic paraphernalia, supernatural events, death scenes, the heroine, the male tyrant, other evil woman and good lover. Body Gothic paraphernalia is first shown in the novel in the form of the red room.
It is clear that this novel contains most of the elements that constitute the genre, for example, an eerie atmosphere full of mystery and suspense, and a character feeling high or overwrought emotions. This concludes the novel into a sub-genre of the Gothic, a ghost story. The Gothic has been active since the eighteenth century; the genre was especially popular within the years of The French Revolution and The Great Terror, which fell between 1789 and the 1790’s. The Gothic can also be traced back to the original Goths, who were believed to have been around in the last days of the Roman Empire. However, there is no substantial proof as the Goths left almost no written records, and were mostly unheard of until the ‘first Gothic revival’ in the late eighteenth century.
In each of these texts the Gothic influence is used to shape the literature in differing ways, creating different effects. In this essay I will highlight these influences and explain reasons why the Authors chose to use the ‘Gothic’ devices. The earliest of these is Austin’s Northanger Abbey. This Austin’s first published Novel is often referred to as a "Gothic parody"1 because it satirizes the form and conventions of the Gothic novels that were popular during the time. A number of Gothic novels are mentioned in the book, including most importantly The Mysteries of Udolpho and The Italian by Ann Radcliffe.
The main theme of marry Shelly’s Frankenstein is Gothicism. Within marry Shelly’s novel Frankenstein we see elements of gothic and the supernatural, sometimes represented through the grotesque. The gothic supernatural is described as being real and disturbing according to Linda Bayer. In fact it can be described as simply being something we are used to and implementing it in the world around us making it more immediate, more believable. Within this theme we see the reoccurring element of gothic villains where “the exaggeration of just one aspect of the beautiful can produce the hideous,” (Bayer 80) in this case it is literal and can be applied to the monster where this is achieved with “combinations of the normal or even beautiful through an unexpected fusion of different realms.
The life that attempts to drag others down the wrong path with them. The only way the terror can be halted, is if the Christ followers destroy the darkness surrounding them. Dracula takes several characters, mainly women, down his path until Professor Abraham Van Helsing uses his wit to bring the culprit to rest. One detail that struck out to me throughout the novel was the use of sexual interaction. Yes, it added details and pointed out the negative features of these demons, specifically Dracula, but could they not have been explained less?
Chapter Four Write a detailed, analytical response to this chapter. Shelley utilises a lot of description and imagery throughout this section of the novel. For example, she opens the chapter illustrating a “dreary night of November”. Her use here of pathetic fallacy immediately sets the tone as bleak and dull. She continues, using phrases such as “the rain pattered dismally against the pane”, to create a subdued and hopeless atmosphere.