Themes Of Fear In Frankenstein And The Mysteries Of Udolpho

Mary Shelley and Ann Radcliff, both write in the Gothic Romantic genre which give rise to the theme fear by their means of execution. The theme of fear presented in Mary Shelley’ story Frankenstein shows the readers the deep meanings behind human nature. The story of Frankenstein also projects the theme of fear to give rise to human emotions and attentions. Ann Radcliff, the author of The Mysteries of Udolpho uses the theme fear to project the elements of human psychology and to engage her readers to the main ideas and concepts. The authors of both stories made a significant impact in the Gothic Romantic genre by their ability to give rise to the theme fear. In the stories Frankenstein and Udolfo, a common theme of fear is found in each of …show more content…
The quote from Frankenstein states, “I took refuge in the courtyard belonging to the house which I inhabited, where I remained during the rest of the night, walking up and down in the greatest agitation, listening attentively, catching and fearing each sound as if it were to announce the approach of the demoniacal corpse to which I had so miserably given life.” The first few words that stood out to me was, “I took refuge in the courtyard” which shows that main character is afraid and trying to hide from something. Also, when the main character begins to state that he is awaiting, “the approach of the demoniacal corpse.” This shows that the main character is afraid because of the eventuality of the horrid monster’s approach. While the character is waiting for the monster he states that he is, “walking up and down in the greatest agitation.” This shows that the main character is remaining in a general area to collect his thoughts of fear and disgust after the encounter with the monster. In addition, Ann Radcliffe utilized the theme of fear through the literary device of setting which can be seen by the quotation from Udolpho which states, “The gloom of these shades, their solitary silence, except when the breeze swept over their summits, the tremendous precipices of the mountains, that came partially to the eye, each assisted to raise the solemnity of Emily’s feelings into awe; she saw only images of gloomy grandeur, or of dreadful sublimity, around her; other images, equally gloomy and equally terrible, gleamed on her imagination.” The first few words that stood out to me was, “solitary silence” which shows the character being in an intensely quiet place with no one around. This allows the reader and the character to show signs of fear through the landscape or setting. Radcliff also states, “only images of gloomy grandeur, or of