Wednesday, February 8, 2012

What Do We Find Familiar In The Strangeness Of The Gothic Novel

By Raquel Durham


People might not know why they find the gothic novel so appealing. If there is an analysis of its common elements it becomes quite obvious though. There are some basic fears that people don't always face up to that are stirred by these dark mysteries.

There is always the dark and foreboding castle or mansion. This is made even more mysterious hidden passages and rooms. People relate this to their sense of wealth and power and the deception that they feel lies behind it.

What might seem even more unreal but which people have a real fear for is the esoteric and unknown. This is made even more eerie when there are ancient tales or predictions of disaster. Dreams and vision might also be present to back this up.

All these things are very closely related to a feeling that people might have that they are powerless against their own fate. For all the control that they think they might have their might be the worry that there are some things cannot be escaped. This is a very big part of the overall plot.

The sense of powerlessness is always embodied by an innocent heroine who is helplessly controlled. Her desire to break free is what people all relate to. In everyone's lives there is the feeling there is something that needs to be stood up to.

This is the perfect setting for creating fear and suspense. People all have a fear of the unknown and this is most prevalent when they are dealing with spiritual forces. The haunted mansion is the perfect way to conjure up the feeling of these dark forces when the wind is howling on a rainy and thunderous night.

Whatever people might fear there is always a desire in then to escape these feelings. In the gothic novel there is always the very real need to escape some danger. In the daring hero you find some hope of being set free from dark and powerful forces that always seem present in life even if just on the boundaries of your consciousness. Gothic Novel




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