There are many gothic conventions in ‘Dracula’, and this is what makes it an eerie delight for the viewers, as well as making it fit into the ‘gothic’ genre. The movie is cleverly adapted from the book, sharing the same title- that was scribed by Bram Stoker. Some very common gothic elements include the theme of isolation and security. Both of these things can be seen in ‘Dracula’ The theme of isolation is presented by the way Dracula’s castle is shown to the viewers- dark, isolated from any form any other form of civilization in the middle of a great landscape consisting of myriad and secret passageways and being a ruin in itself. The settings presented are also dark and eeire, and Dracula himself lives in solitude with no other companion.
By creating the horrifying setting, the readers can have a feeling that they are also inside the story and watching all these events happening. Also, people have a kind of motion that when they are being horrified, in the meanwhile, they will feel excited at the same time. Therefore, the fog and darkness surrounding the city is an embellishment of the Gothic genre, which impressed me so much. In the century of the book, the people had no picture of what is split personality. In the book, nobody would have think of the idea of two souls living in a person, therefore, it makes the book become more suspicious.
This quote shows the medieval castle aspect almost always found in the gothic novel type, but also even begins to set up the dark, gloomy, and uneasy atmosphere that is so important in this kind of literature. Within the first four chapters, Jonathan, describes the setting of the Count’s old abandoned-looking castle which gave Jonathan, not to mention the reader, an uneasy feeling: “..for there is something so strange about this place and all in it that I cannot but feel uneasy. I wish I were safe out of
The character of Dracula rarely appears in the text after the first few chapters to create a sense of mystique for Dracula, and by doing so proves Dracula is supernatural. The theme of good versus evil is demonstrated by symbolic colors, and by Christian symbols used as weapon on Dracula. The Victorian view of women was that women weren’t supposed to be sexualized, and it’s helpful to Dracula to take advantage of Lucy and Mina. Victorian views on women were not helpful to Mina, because everyone underestimates her. After the first few chapters, Dracula rarely appears in the actual narrative to create a sense of mystique.
Washington Irving is identified with the gothic with his “Legend of Sleepy Hollow”, however the gothic mode can also be identified in his story, “Rip Van Winkle”. To begin, both will be compared with their use of the Gothic Mode. Edgar Allan Poe’s writing set the mold for most gothic literature to follow. From “The Raven” to “The Tell-Tale Heart” his writing sets the reader on edge and fills them with unease. “Its style tends to be ornate, unnatural” (Carter 134).
Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, and Edgar Allan Poe’s short story “The Fall of the House of Usher”, are both excellent examples of Gothic literature and the elements which set this genre apart from others. Each author employs such Gothic elements as metonymy, mystery and suspense, and overwrought emotion to create pieces of writing that have affected the way we tell stories even to the present day. Metonymy is an element that affects the way the reader interprets the scene without knowing it. In Gothic literature, metonymy usually makes for much “doom and gloom.” Blowing winds, howls, moans, sighs, and eerie sounds are all entwined within Frankenstein, illustrating Shelley’s use of metonymy. All of these are used to subtly reference the overall air of darkness and horror apparent in the novel.
He is advised not go to the room, yet he persists that he will not believe in a ghost until it has physical defiance. Later on the young man is faced with the ghost, and finds out that there is more to the ghost than it first appears. In this essay I will write on the area under discussion of how the two writers of Red Room, and Monkeys Paw create suspense, and tension in each of their short stories. Both Monkey’s Paw & Red Room have similarities, and differences, and are based on the theme of Gothic Horror. Gothic Horror stories are usually filled with horror, and romance, and mostly have interactions with paranormal events.
The architecture of the house also symbolises imprisonment: "the narrow windows are deeply set in the wall, and the corners defended with large jutting stones". From the descriptions it is clear that the house is intended to be impenetrable, so as well as not allowing Lockwood access inside, Wuthering Heights imprisons characters, namely Heathcliff, Isabella and Hareton, inside and denies them of their personal freedom. Brontë's references to windows, gates and doors at the Heights serve as recurring images, suggesting barriers which separate characters from their hopes and desires. This imagery creates the idea of Wuthering Heights as a prison, and it's inhabitants as prisoners being denied freedom. However, Wuthering Heights and the surrounding moors are also described with imagery symbolising natural freedom, as places where Heathcliff and
The public-houses were just closing, and dim men and women were clustering in broken groups round their doors. From some of the bars came the sound of a horrible laughter. In others drunkards brawled and screamed.” The unexplained supernatural is a regular theme in gothic novels and in A Picture of Dorian Gray, Dorian’s bargain with the devil and the magical effect of this on his portrait is the novels most important gothic element. In the first chapter when Henry manages to convince Dorian that beauty and youth is everything and that without these two things a man is worth nothing, Dorian’s subconsciously, in the pursuit of absolution says ‘I would give my soul’ . And for the next eighteen years his wish is fulfilled, not a hint of a crease marks his face.
The main character doesn’t like it, because it means that he gets Jack less for himself. He eventually convinces himself to accept Jack’s fate. The story contains typical elements of the gothic: an empty creepy house, which in this case is the doll house. The atmosphere from within the dream is described in a very creepy tone. And then there’s just something about this old doll house that is very mystical.