Gothic Romanticism

(Darker Romantics)

The Time PeriodExpansion, Commerce, & Grandeur

Lewis & Clark

Social Context

Technology, Democracy, and Slavery

The Writers

Social Vision

Romantic Vision

Darker Romantics A lot of writers wrote against the TranscendentalistDeeply disturbed by human heart: crime, cruelty, guilt, and self-destruction are key aspects of being humanEmphasize human fallibility and proneness to sin Hardships in effecting social changeReaction against Age of Reason (against rigidity/formality)

People are ruled by emotion, not logic and reasonScientific reasoning discourages intuition and spontaneity

More shift to rural: cities are seen as centers of corruption and ugliness

Description of a fallen world Emphasis placed on leaving civilization and entering the world of nature (more so for Transcendentalist) Romantics drew their inspiration from the wilderness and westward expansionPoetry was seen as the greatest witness to the power of imagination Directly influenced by intellectual and social ferment (excitement) in New England

Major Characteristics

Focused on the mystery of the world; atmosphere of mystery & suspense

Interest in the past

Focus on the individual

Inspired by myth, legend, & folklore

Supernaturally charged environment

Setting, characterization, and plot are key aspects

SettingBig reliance on imageryDark, gloomy, frightfulAncient castles, dungeons, flickering lights, screams, ghosts, graveyardsPortrays the deterioration of the world (decayed and ruined)Nature as a spiritual force- but in a sinister way

When it reveals truth, its revelations are evil and hellish

Characterization

Gothic hero is an archetypeProtagonist

usually isolated (voluntarily or involuntarily) Villain

epitome of evil, either by his own fall from grace or by some implicit malevolence

Wandererepitome of isolation; wanders the world in exile

Personify evil in the form of devils, ghouls, vampires, ghosts, etc.

Plot Mirrors the ruined world in its dealings with the fall of the protagonist. This fall from grace usually occurs because the protagonist gives in to the temptations from the villain.Most of the time we can relate to this type of story because it bears some realistic characteristics (but it is magnified)