GREATEST GHOSTLY GOTHIC BOOKS

Gothic fiction, also known as Gothic horror is a literary aesthetic of fear and haunting that was inspired by Gothic architecture from the European Middle Ages. Gothic architecture was commonly known for its pointed arches, stained glass windows, flying buttresses, ribbed vaults, and spires. It began from the 12th-20th century, and evokes feelings of mystery and terror.

        As a result, it created Gothic literature which is made up of multiple characteristics. This includes: the supernatural, the horrifying, the past, the Byronic hero, romance, madness, an eerie setting, religion, and Gothic medieval architecture.

The first novel to coin itself as a piece of Gothic literature was ‘The Castle of Otranto’, published 1764. This is solely due to its hidden passageways and supernatural forces. However, we will delve deeper into the many Gothic novels which have made an impact to the growth of Gothic fiction.

Let’s find out!

1.      HAMLET     

 Hamlet is a 1603 play by William Shakespeare. It explores the innate grief of the main protagonist, who just lost his father. Soon, Hamlet sets his sights on revenge when he discovers that his dad was actually viciously murdered. However, he frequently becomes immensely overpowered by his own thoughts of morality and death which influences his goal for revenge to become increasingly out of reach.

Hamlet is considered a work of Gothic before its time because of its ghostly apparitions, its horrifying tragedies, as well as its dark and eerie setting.

Gothic characteristics: supernatural, romance, the past (dark), religion, setting, madness

Read and find out if Hamlet succeeds in his quest for revenge!

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    1.       THE CASTLE OF OTRANTO

The Castle of Otranto is the first novel to be deemed as a Gothic novel, and it was published in 1764. The story speaks about Manfred who is the ruler of Otranto, seeking beneficial courtship with the princess Isabella from his son Conrad. His vulnerability towards his power and his reign are put at the heart of the novel, as he desperately finds a way to ensure he protects his family’s claim to the throne.

The Castle of Otranto is truly Gothic due to its innate Gothic characteristics. This includes: set in a haunted castle, and showcases medievalism and terror in harmony with one another. Walpole’s actions are derived from a dream. Manfred is desperate to ensure that the prophecy will not come true, so his reign won’t come to an end. As a result, he does everything to stop it.

Gothic characteristics: romance, the supernatural, religion, eerie setting, medieval architecture, prophecy

Find out more!

3. THE RAVEN

The Raven is a narrative poem by Edgar Allan Poe which was published in 1845, usually as part of a collection of short stories. The Raven tells the story of an un-named narrator who is lamenting on his grief towards his lost love Lenore. A talking raven approaches and antagonises the narrator on a dark and stormy night by taunting the words ‘nevermore’ at him.

      As the poem progresses, the narrator’s irritation towards this rankling raven grows stronger.

The Raven is famously known for its dark, ominous setting, supernatural undertones, and ghostly weather. All of these are indicative to characteristics of Gothic fiction. In return, Poe unmasks all the emotions that are running through the narrator's mind such as: sorrow and pain.

Ergo, The Raven is truly the pinnacle of a classic ghost story that you would tell to frighten someone on a stormy night. 

Gothic characteristics: supernatural, dark, religion, gloomy weather, setting, romance

Read and find out if the loss of his lovely Lenore has led him down a path of madness!

                                                                                                                                                                  4. WUTHERING HEIGHTS

Wuthering Heights is a Gothic novel by Emily Bronte, written in 1847 under her pen name Ellis Bell. It was set on the Yorkshire Moors which truly captures the medieval setting which is commonly recognised within Gothic literature.

Wuthering Heights tells the story of revenge and a passion of love between Heathcliff and Catherine. Unfortunately, their love spirals into destruction when Catherine decides to marry Edgar Linton. Heathcliff soon becomes absorbed and influenced by his immediate surroundings, which heightens his love and longing for Catherine.

Gothic Characteristics: setting, the supernatural, romance, madness, Byronic hero, horrifying, atmospheric weather

Read and find out!

                                                                                                                                                                  5. THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY

The Picture of Dorian Gray is a philosophical Gothic novella, written by Oscar Wilde in 1891. The Picture of Dorian Gray focuses on a painting of Dorian which is a pinnacle of beauty, grace, and purity. Regretfully, Dorian becomes acquainted with Lord Henry Wotton who soon subverts and corrupts any goodness or morality within his soul.

The theme of the novella illustrates the way in which sin can have innate impact on your soul, thus determining whether you are good or bad. As a result, the painting slowly deteriorates and disintegrates after all of his gluttonous actions.

Gothic characteristics: supernatural, romance, horrifying

Read and find out if Dorian’s pleasure-seeking lifestyle destroys his soul!

6. THE YELLOW WALLPAPER 

The Yellow Wallpaper is a feminist short story by Charlottle Perkins Gilman, published in 1892. After suffering from postpartum psychosis, our female protagonist is given strict orders by her doctor husband for bed rest and no reading or writing.

This short story tells the tale of a female narrator who is driven to madness by the yellow wallpaper in her room. Day by day she sees something new beyond the yellow layers of the wallpaper. As the thoughts in her mind grow more aggressive, she soon becomes completely detached from reality.

Gothic characteristics: madness, setting, supernatural, isolation

Read and find out the events which leads to her descent into madness!

7. THE BLOODY CHAMBER

The Bloody Chamber short story by Angela Carter that was published in 1974. This book presents a series of short stories which are magical twist on our classical fairy tales such as: Beauty and the Beast, Little Red Riding Hood, and more.

Angela Carter cleverly subverts and modernises well-known fairy tales in order to uncover the female inequality and the dark sexual inclinations of men in its most disturbing and horrifying form.

Gothic characteristics: supernatural, dark, horrifying, romance (passion and lust), medieval architecture (castles and dungeons), the occult (curses)

Read and find out how Angela Carter’s female protagonists regain their power!

8. BELOVED

Beloved is a 1987 Gothic novel by Toni Morrison. The novel is groundbreaking for its dark, supernatural, and horrifying elements. Beloved tells the story of Sethe who is deeply enslaved her past. As a slave, the trauma which she faced haunts her every day, it consumes every inch of her as a human being. As a result, she stops at nothing to ensure that none of her children ever have to experience something so tragic.

At the core, Sethe’s deep rooted psychosis is what illuminates her strongest characteristic. That being, her love for her children. Horrifyingly, Sethe takes it on herself to ‘save’ them.

Beloved is a Gothic piece of literature due to a terrifying past which influences the subverted righteous behaviour of our main character.

Gothic characteristics: supernatural, the past, dark, horrifying, setting

Read and find out if Sethe manages to get rid of the trauma clouding her mind!

Throughout history, Gothic literature has developed drastically through its style whilst consistently maintaining Gothic tropes such as: horror, the supernatural, and an eerie setting. All of these pieces of literature above contributes to provoking fear and emotions of dread and fear, but they differ in the way that this fear is executed.

For example, Hamlet ,The Raven, and The Yellow Wallpaper use Gothic qualities in order to illustrate the complex psychology behind human beings. As readers, we are taken on a whirlwind of emotions which causes us to become emphatically scared for these main characters.

However, The Castle of Otranto and Wuthering Heights use Gothic characteristics to showcase the way in which setting, atmosphere, and weather work together. In return, these novels have been able to heighten feelings of terror and suspense within their readers. As well as drive the strong narrative within their plots.

Conversely, The Bloody Chamber, Beloved and The Picture of Dorian Gray reveal the way in which monsters, ghosts, and ghouls take centre stage in their novels. Although each plot represent their 'monster' in a variety of ways, they all show that monster are valuable to adding more horror the readers.

Overall, we have not even scratched the surface of what Gothic literature has to offer. There are novels such as: A Christmas Carol, Carmilla, Salem’s Lot, and Goosebumps. Don’t be afraid to immerse yourself into the world of Gothic fiction.

You won’t regret it!