Creative minds tried to influence people’s beliefs and perceptions by appealing to primal emotions. Religion was therefore used as the primary pawn in their efforts to control the masses. This in turn transformed religion into a fuel which ultimately motivated people to act in sometimes, illogical ways. However, unlike their counterparts, authors of gothic literature hold up a mirror to this ‘brainwashed’ society, and present the unorthodox and unconventional views of the world their religion makes them believe. Essentially, gothic literature demonstrates how religion makes us act in unusual ways, how the supernatural influences human life, and how writers use religious symbols and motifs in their stories.
To begin, in gothic literature, …show more content…
People create beliefs founded on irrational feelings that do not have fact or reason to support them. For example, in “The Haunting” directed by Robert Wise, Eleanor, the main character throws salt over her shoulders instead of confronting what’s truly going on within the walls of Hill House. Moreover, in the stories, religious practices are presented analogously by the tradition. In Shirley Jackson’s, “The Lottery”, young children learn about the lottery before they are trained and socialized to learn about other things in the society. ( ) The black box was preserved for a long time becoming both a cultural and superstitious symbol. It was a symbol of tradition and would be used in all betting. The black color of the box is associated with mourning or death. Usually, the angel of the death is assumed to be associated with darkness. The black color of the box and the dot that Mrs. Hutchinson opens is associated superstitiously with bad luck. They are a premonition of bad issues to come. Furthermore, most people will conduct rituals because other people do conduct rituals and not because they have objectively examined a religion. In “The Lottery”, the people living in the village keep performing the ritual even if killing is bad. It shows that people are less likely to understand and differentiate between
To begin, in gothic literature, …show more content…
People create beliefs founded on irrational feelings that do not have fact or reason to support them. For example, in “The Haunting” directed by Robert Wise, Eleanor, the main character throws salt over her shoulders instead of confronting what’s truly going on within the walls of Hill House. Moreover, in the stories, religious practices are presented analogously by the tradition. In Shirley Jackson’s, “The Lottery”, young children learn about the lottery before they are trained and socialized to learn about other things in the society. ( ) The black box was preserved for a long time becoming both a cultural and superstitious symbol. It was a symbol of tradition and would be used in all betting. The black color of the box is associated with mourning or death. Usually, the angel of the death is assumed to be associated with darkness. The black color of the box and the dot that Mrs. Hutchinson opens is associated superstitiously with bad luck. They are a premonition of bad issues to come. Furthermore, most people will conduct rituals because other people do conduct rituals and not because they have objectively examined a religion. In “The Lottery”, the people living in the village keep performing the ritual even if killing is bad. It shows that people are less likely to understand and differentiate between