Elements of Gothic Literature~> Frankenstein

People tend to feel trapped when faced with insurmountable problems and challenges.  This feeling, though, is magnified in Gothic literature.  This is done by the use of an imperishable foe as well as a walled enclosure.  One such example of this is: “Of what materials was I made that I could thus resist so many shocks, which, like the turning of the wheel, continually renewed the torture?  But I was doomed to live and in two months found myself as awaking from a dream, in a prison, stretched on a wretched bed, surrounded by jailers, turnkeys, bolts, and all the miserable apparatus of a dungeon.” (pg 217 – 218, Frankenstein by Marry Shelley)  This excerpt shows how a walled enclosure of no escape magnified the misery of Dr. Frankenstein.

Gothic Traditions

In Gothic literature, there are certain elements that are traditionally apparent.  These elements include a victim, victimizer whose power is marveled by the victim and who is supernatural in some way, a walled enclosure that is inescapable making the victim’s situation more helpless, and a gloomy atmosphere.

(http://www.scepticthomas.com/gothic/gothic.htm)

Logic Vs. Emotions in Frankenstein

“While I still hung over her in the agony of despair, I happened to look up. The windows of the room had before been darkened, and I felt a kind of panic on seeing the pale yellow light of the moon illuminate the chamber. The shutters had been thrown back, and with a sensation of horror not to be described, I saw at the open window a figure the most hideous and abhorred. A grin was on the face of the monster; he seemed to jeer, as with his fiendish finger he pointed towards the corpse of my wife. I rushed towards the window, and drawing a pistol from my bosom, fired; but he eluded me, leaped from his station, and running with the swiftness of lightning, plunged into the lake.”(242)  The afore quote was from the later part of Frankenstein by Marry Shelley.  It depicted the train of thought of Dr. Frankenstein upon finding his bride murdered.  This shows two instances of illogicality on his part.  Dr. Frankenstein expected the monster to leave his new wife alone, but to come after him.  This was illogical because the monster had attacked three of Frankenstein’s loved ones before, all in an attempt to upset Frankenstein.  Hence, believing this instant would be different was absurd.  The second illogical act was trying to shoot the monster from the window.  Frankenstein’s creature had eluded him before so it was an act of emotion when this feat was attempted.

Gothic Literature and Frankenstein

 Throughout the book of Frankenstein Gothic literature constantly makes it's appearance. Based on the research there are some connections such as the conflict of the story, the setting and even the atmosphere. A good example would be when Dr. Frankenstein says "I feared every turning of the street would present to my view. I did not dare return to the apartment which I inhabited, but felt impelled to hurry on, although wetted by the rain, which poured from a black and comfortless sky." This was minutes before Dr. Frankenstein gave life to the creature. He was terrified of his creation that he simply ran from his apartment and abandoned the monster. From the imagery given in the quote we can easily figure out what kind of person Dr. Frankenstein is.

Gothic Literature

Gothic culture has always drawn attention in many aspects. Gothic literature is well known all over the world by its qualities associated with its form of writing. It influenced other different types of writing styles. Writers of "the optimistic country" founded the "Enlightenment principles of the pursuit happiness", came up with a literature which some found strange yet filled with beauty and sorrow. The writers were influenced by the conflicts and settings that made the British Gothic well known for its literature in the Atlantic. The Early American literature had some similarities to British Gothic such as a strange atmosphere, ghosts, strange settings such as haunted houses or abandoned buildings.

(Source: http://www.americangothic.narod.ru/america.htm)