Gothic Literature was a natural progression from romanticism, which had existed in the 18th Century Essay Example For Students

Gothic Literature was a natural progression from romanticism, which had existed in the 18th Century Essay Gothic Literature was a natural progression from romanticism, which had existed in the 18th Century. Initially, such a unique style of literature was met with a somewhat mixed response; although it was greeted with enthusiasm from members of the public, literary critics were much more dubious and sceptical. Gothic writing is a style of literature that relies upon the evocation of moods, feelings and imagery for impact. This style of writing was developed during an age of great scientific discovery à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" such literature marked a reaction against the prevailing Age of Enlightenment. Many Gothic authors opposed the new-found faith and enthusiasm placed in these discoveries, believing that they restricted freedom of imagination. Consequently, Gothic writers inhabited areas where no answers are provided à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" exploiting peoples fears and offering answers that are in stark contrast to the otherwise scientific explanations. Gothic writing is a style that depends upon the evocation of moods, which is reflected mainly in the writing style of a novel. Dracula is written in the first person à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" I must have been asleep with a constant change of narrator within chapters. Wilde, however, wrote in the third person, omniscient, giving us the observers point of view whilst still showing us the intelligence and class of his characters through the language that they use à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" come, Mr Gray, my hansom is outside. The diary entries or notes used in Dracula are fragmented and have an epistolary structure Jonathon Harkers Journal. This emphasises each of the characters feelings of isolation and loneliness, adding to the appeal of the reader. During the entries, Stoker goes to great lengths to show that his narrators are all rational and logical, there was business to be done, and I could allow nothing to interfere with it, and to show that their imaginations do not run riot à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" heightening the fear and interest of the reader, as a supposedly intelligent person is still shown as vulnerable. In The Picture of Dorian Gray Dorian suffers from both actual and psychological isolation from his forced vulnerability. The reason why this happens is due to the increase of evil in him as the plot develops. This is down to the corruptive character of Lord Henry, who increases his terribly enthralling influence over him with the use of his yellow book- For years Dorian Gray could not free himself from the influence of this book. The book becomes like a Holy Scripture to him and he lives a life devoted to bringing together new experiences and sensations with no regard for conventional standards of morality, or the consequences of his actions. He soon understands what has happened, but is unable to do anything about it by this time -You poisoned me with a book once. I should never forgive thatà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦it does harm. The use of corruptive characters is also apparent in Dracula, as the corrupter is actually the Count himself, although Stoker shows his corruption as a more physical and more passionate act than the flattering and cerebral seduction of Lord Henrys à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" her breast heaved softly. Corruptive characters were an important part of gothic writing, as not only does it show an immoral side to society, it also employs some sympathy towards the characters in the eyes of the reader. Stoker presents psychological isolation through the individual diary entries of each character à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" when each character is separated from the others they become isolated and vulnerable to Draculas attacks. Dracula has little power over them, however, when they are all together, and are able to break his thrall. Unexplained and uncertain events are a significant aspect of gothic text. The focus on mystery in Dracula would have had a substantial effect on the reader in the 1890s, as there was only one previous known author to write about vampires. These nightmare realms of uncertainty are also present in Wildes novel. His audience was the same as Stokers, although earlier in the 1890s, and his readers would suffer the same macabre interest in the sensational and supernatural when he described the painting, and how hour by hour, week by week, the thing on the canvas was growing old. Religion features quite frequently in Dracula, although the only real mention of it in Dorian Gray is when Basil quotes Isaiah when he looks at the portrait. Though your sins be as scarlet, yet I will make them as white as snow. There is also a hidden implication in the yellow book that Lord Henry gives to Dorian as a gift. In Dracula, the King-vampire may be seen to be a parody of Christ. Drinking blood bestows a sort of eternal life, and can be compared to the Catholic mass. To the God-fearing people of the 19th Century these references to Christ and religion would have had a profound effect on the way they viewed the novels. Including religious references in these novels would not only have captured the readers interest, but also given them the fear that what the authors are describing could be real. Poor literature EssayWhen ordering flowers for Sibyl he asks for as few white ones as possible showing his loss of virtuousness, and the lack of need for it. One of the main contrasts in these two novels is the use of female characters. The main and almost only female character in the entire novel of Dorian Gray is Sibyl Vane. Her death happened on the verge of Dorians transformation why is it that I cannot feel this tragedy as much as I want to? She is the entire innocent, beauty and purity that are in him. She is everything to me. Sibyls portrayal of Juliet from Shakespeares tragedy Romeo and Juliet foreshadows the doomed nature of Sibyls relationship with Dorian Gray. Women dont play a substantial or crucial part in the novel. In the novel, women are present, but remain very shallow and stereotypical. Most of the women who do appear are upper class women, except for Sybil Vane. Even though Sybil Vane plays an important part in Dorians life for a while, her character remains unimportant, its the woman she plays he falls in love with. When is she Sybil Vane? Never. When she fails on stage, it doesnt matter to Dorian who she really is beyond the parts she played. Further in the novel, women seem only present at gatherings and meetings, but they seem neither of any importance to the story nor to the main characters. In contrast, the female characters in Dracula are more dominating figures. The three weird sisters that Harker encounters in Draculas castle are both his dream and his nightmare à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" they in fact embody both the dream and the nightmare of the Victorian male imagination in general. The sisters represent what the Victorian ideal stipulates women should not be à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" deliberately voluptuous and sexually aggressive which was both thrilling and repulsive à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" thus making their beauty both a promise of sexual fulfilment and a curse. However, this sexual proficiency threatens to undermine the foundations of a male dominated society by compromising mens ability to reason and maintain control. Dracula addresses the fear of things we cannot prove scientifically and rationally, and the ways we still rely on magic, ritual and faith to comfort and even to save us in an age of scientific curiosity and achievement. Stokers characters are in love with modern technology: with telegraphs and trains, with typewriters and gramophones write it out for him on the typewriter and primitive recording devices. As well, there are references to scientific and medical advances such as the transfusion of blood, which aim to dispel all mystery. The invasion Dracula attempts provides a suggestion that people may be pompous and pretentious in feeling they can know and control everything: there are mysteries, which perhaps cannot be fully grasped. Dracula is defeated by human effort using tools of ritual, not by science or reason: Gods madmen must do wild work. To the reader, this would suggest that relying on such modernity would have a disastrous effect. This would capture the attraction of the readers of the 19th century as they were beginning to use such progressive things. It would place a fearful belief in their minds that perhaps technology isnt as successful as it is supposed to be. Although The Picture of Dorian Gray is definitely described as a Gothic text, it does not contain many of the features typical to a Gothic text. There is no real particular mention of religion, animals/creatures or even any particularly bleak settings. However, in both novels loved ones and innocent people die, innocence and good is corrupted and there is a connection to sexuality. Both novels create an aspect of mystery for the reader of the 19th century. Stokers portrayal of a creature little known by the English public of the 1890s would have been of fear inspiring fascination to read about. Though few would have read John Palidoris vampire novel, more perhaps would have heard the tale of Vlad the Impaler. He was a man who supposedly drank human blood or the blood of his war victims, and was in fact a Dracule. This basis in reality would add a sadistic interest to the novel. Wildes novel, though equally inexplicable, doesnt create the same feeling of terror, but does raise a number of reservations in its reader. Both novels are seemingly successful texts in upholding the interest of the reader through many of the typical conventions of the Gothic tradition.