Supernatural Themes In Gothic Literature

Supernatural themes within Gothic texts are designed to push against the common way within society in order to be relevant and convey a message. Throughout history, the human race has taken many different paths and embraced many different beliefs. Three of these beliefs that have been incredibly influential in the past three centuries are: neoclassicism, romanticism and Victorianism. In each of these historical periods, gothic literature and by extension the supernatural, acted as a rejection of the common beliefs. Generally, this was specifically done by the Authors in order to convey a relevant message. The Castle of Otranto was a rejection of the neoclassical school of thought, Dracula was a rejection of romanticist ideals and The Fall of …show more content…
The Victorian Era was the duration of Queen Victoria’s reign which spanned from 1837 till 1901. The Victorian Era not only had a big impact on England but the entire world. It held beliefs that placed large emphasis on rigid aristocratic systems and proper behavior. The Fall of the House of Usher points out the flaws in these beliefs and uses the supernatural to represent themes such as aristocratic decay and madness. As the short story begins, and the narrator is approaching the House of Usher, he ominously describes it: “Ghastly tree stems, and the vacant and the eye-like windows.” Manors and houses in the Victorian Era were symbols of status and wealth. Edgar Allen Poe uses the idea of the uncanny to describe the house and this paints it in an unsettling air. In doing so, the house itself becomes a living representation of the decay of aristocracy and a warning against vesting too much interest into those ideas. Towards the end of the short story, following the death of Roderick Usher’s sister Madeline, Roderick begins a descent into insanity. Usher tells the narrator: “Movements in the coffin. I heard them - many, many days ago - yet I dared not - I dared not speak!” The syntax conveys the idea of madness, as Usher is repeating phrases and seemingly conveying incoherent thoughts. In Victorian times there was a great emphasis on being proper and acting correctly. The supernatural within the House of the fall of Usher comments on the idea of madness and how living in that environment can result in a breakdown into madness. Edgar Allen Poe uses the supernatural within his story to push against the common ideas of the Victorian era by showing the decay and madness that aristocracy and properness can