What is Gothic Literature?

A difficult concept to define, the Gothic began with a group of East Germanic people known as the Goths. The Goths were considered to be uncivilized, dangerous, and barbaric. All elements of their culture, from artwork to architecture were viewed with much distaste. When extreme elements of death and danger began to enter novels, the literature produced by such gory, barbaric narration was deemed Gothic as well. Horace Wallpole authored the first Gothic novel in 1764, Castle of Otranto. The first of its kind, Castle of Otranto was highly criticized for its poor literary quality, but nonetheless opened the door to the production of other Gothic literature. Novels such as Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, Bram Stoker's Dracula, and Allen Moore's The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen are all examples of Gothic literature through the centuries. Through hundreds of years of adaptation and maturation, the Gothic has grown to inspire not only literature, artwork, and architecture, but also music, television, motion pictures, and endless forms of social media and popular culture.

Gothic literature is a form of writing that combines fiction, horror, and romanticism. Often characterized by elements such as darkness, grotesqueness, shadows, remote castles, and wicked tyrants, Gothic literature allows readers to explore their darkest interests within the safe confines of a novel.  In Gothic literature, a reader will always encounter heroes, villains, and damsels, struggling to face ever-present monsters, be they real, imagined, or metaphorical. In reference to every monster is a deep-rooted fear. Modern fears are expressed through the chosen monster. Gothic literature is guilty of using cliches like fainting women and stupid peasants, as well as dungeons, secret passages, and bumps in the night to chill and thrill its readers.

As I mentioned, Gothic literature has inspired many elements of popular culture, including television shows. The CBS show, Criminal Minds is a prime example of how specific works in Gothic literature have inspired modern television episodes.The uncomfortable topic of cannibalism, though oddly familiar, preys on our own fears of being consumed, physically or metaphorically. Though eating meat at a table is familiar to us all, the shock of human consumption turns the stomachs of most. Cannibalism is a popular theme in this crime drama, and since the act of vampirism is form of cannibalism, it is indubitable that many episodes have taken elements from Bram Stoker's Dracula to build a creepily uncanny plot with twists and turns along the way.