The Fiction Genre Of Gothic Fiction - 1963 Words

The Literary fiction genre of Gothic, including Crime and Horror, usually features a figure of Otherness as either the protagonists of antagonists of the story. The noun Otherness is used in this context to describe a being that is different from the norm. This could be a creature that is not human at all or an individual as representation of a minority group in the human society, in either race, class, sexuality or gender. These figure often have the function of discussing issues, such as homosexuality or gender inequality. â€Å"Gothic fiction of the nineteenth century specifically used the body of the monster to produce race, class, gender and sexuality within narratives about the relation between subjectivities and certain bodies.†Ã¢â‚¬ ¦show more content†¦The most famous vampire however, is Bram Stoker’s â€Å"Dracula†, antagonist of the eponymous novel that was first published in the year 1897. Since its popularity in Victorian Gothic literature, the v ersatile creature has never lost its position as one of the most used monsters in fiction, not only restricted to the genre of Horror. The vampire is able to adapt to every generation without any difficulties and thereby avoids being exposed in its Otherness. In Victorian times as well as contemporary times, the vampire is used to raise attention to social anxieties and fears about differences in mankind. In the early nineteenth century, one of the biggest threats to humanity were contagious illnesses, such as tuberculosis and syphilis. After the fast increasing of cities during the Industrialisation, illnesses spread more quickly and every member of society could be infected. Being turned into a vampire was often used as an image of the outbreak of a lethal illness. One the most apparent similarities between a lethal disease and the transformation to a vampire is the infectiousness through blood or other bodily fluids. The way Dracula’s victims are infected is through exchan ge of blood, which is how sexual transmitted diseases, like syphilis or nowadays the similarly as lethal AIDS, are carried. Bruce Hale offers a description of the development of cholera in Victorian times: â€Å"thirst and dehydration; sever pain in the limbs, stomach, and abdominal muscles; a change skin hue to aShow MoreRelatedGothic Fiction Genre in Tell Tale Heart by Edgar Allen Poe and Flannery O’ Connor’s A Good Man is Hard to Find571 Words   |  2 Pagesthe old mans heart. It increased my fury, as the beating of a drum stimulates the soldier into courage.† –â€Å"Tell Tale Heart† by Edgar Allen Poe The Gothic fiction genre has been known for its gory and gruesome imagery ever since the 1800s. This genre has flourished from one generation to another into many other sub-genres including the Southern Gothic. With â€Å"Tell Tale Heart† Edgar Allen Poe out does himself with his incredibly brutal descriptions as seen in the quote above. In an ongoing battle ofRead MoreThe American Gothic in The Fall of the House of Usher by Edgar Allan Poe1539 Words   |  7 PagesThe end of the eighteenth century brought about the beginning of a new genre of literature in America; the American Gothic. Already a popular genre in Europe, this new strain of literature in America arose to create a rather abrupt contrast to the Enlightenment foundations upon which American was born. Instead of concerning subjects of liberty and the pursuit of happiness; key elements of the American dream, American Gothic literature embodies and gives voice to the dark nightmare that is theRead MoreReading Respon se # 3 : Code Breaking1173 Words   |  5 PagesCode-breaking I have, until this point in this course, complained that, with few exceptions, Science Fiction as a genre never seems to quite reach a critical mass where it can achieve breakaway-velocity and leave its rather conservative orbit of binary gender (and heteronormativity) behind. There seems to have been many times when the genre has tiptoed close to the edge of gender-binarism (for instance, in its sub-genre of feminist utopias), only to scurry away from the assumed precipice and remain firmly ensconcedRead MoreLiterary Critics Of Edgar Allan Poe1693 Words   |  7 Pagesrecognize him for. His long and intriguing stories about mystery and the macabre are just some examples of his classic writings. At first, Edgar Allan Poe was referred to as the inventor of the modern detective story and a specialist in the science fiction genre. It was not until later in his life that people began to acknowledge him as one of America s first admirable literary critics. Edgar Allan Poe was born in Boston Massachusetts, on January 19th, 1809. His parents, David Poe Jr. and ElizabethRead MoreThe Fall Of The House Of Usher, By Edgar Allen Poe1015 Words   |  5 Pagescommonly associated with the Science Fiction and Horror genres, E.T.A Hoffman’s â€Å"The Sandman† is, in fact, a work of Gothic prose as it identifies with all of the classic literary elements of this genre and the epistolary form only aids in these elements. Gothic Literature embodies the elements of the grotesque, the unknown, death/decay, liminal spaces, and romance, â€Å"The Sandman† has many common elements throughout in likeness with other great works of Gothic fiction, including Edgar Allen Poe’s â€Å"TheRead MoreThe Impact Of Romanticism In Jane Austens Northanger Abbey1500 Words   |  6 PagesOne of the many joys of reading is that a great novel can transport you to a completely different realm, dimension, or world. There are many genres of books that can do so, but one of the most important ones during the Romantic era w as gothic literature. In Jane Austen’s novel, Northanger Abbey, it is clear that she is commenting on the impact of gothic literature during this era. Austen creates this commentary based on the continual exaggeration and use of the word ‘horrid’ by characters, CatherineRead MoreMagic Realism And Gothic Literature905 Words   |  4 Pagesto the traits of gothic literature and magic realism because they both show life threatening situations. It is also different however, because Magical Realism is more relatable to a person with a normal life that has been interrupted with strange events, while in Gothic Literature one cannot connect as much to the character’s life. Gothic literature is pleasing horror or dark literature. Edgar Allen Poe’s The Fall Of The House Of Usher† is a good example of gothic literature becauseRead MoreMary Shelley and Flannery OConnor: Gothic Isolationists1724 Words   |  7 Pages Gothic fiction is a genre of literature that combines fiction, horror and Romanticism with a particular focus on the mysterious and supernatural aspects. Gothic fiction originated in England during the latter half of the 18th century. This distinctive genre of literature soon developed into a 19th century phenomenon. The success of this dominant genre in England is frequently attributed to Mary Shelley. Despite its success during this time period, gothic fiction ceased to be a dominant genre byRead MoreFemale Gothic The Monsters Mother Essay1534 Words   |  7 PagesFemale Gothic: The Monster’s Mother In Ellen Moers’ critical essay Female Gothic: The Monster’s Mother (1974) on Mary Shelley’s novel Frankenstein, she argues that Mary Shelley’s story is greatly influenced by her experience of motherhood. This essay uses the historical approach, biographical, and formalist approach at point. Moers references the cultural context of the novel, Mary Shelley’s experience as a woman and mother and how that influenced her writing, and focuses on the genre of the novelRead MoreThe Secret Life of Bees and How It Is Classified Under the Southern Gothic Genre792 Words   |  4 PagesThe Secret Life of Bees within the Southern Gothic Genre Most southern gothic literature deals with the disturbed and flawed characters; one of the most famous writers of this genre is Edgar Allan Poe. The southern gothic genre is characterized by grotesque, gruesome, or unbelievable incidents. The southern gothic genre is portrayed in many ways. Lily, the main character, goes through many difficult life experiences and learns many tough lessons. This book does not have a happy ending like a fairy