The picture of Dorian Gray is a vivid example of Gothic text with its dark tone and the presence of the handsome, wealthy and mysterious male protagonist that has much resemblance to the romantic hero. However, Dorian appears to be more villain than a classic romantic protagonist. I was captivated by and related to Basil's character right from the beginning of the story through the misunderstanding between him and Lord Henry about his painting of Dorian Gray. It sometimes feels like the artists live in a completely different world where they have an alternative understanding of the reality. The inciting incident of the story feels hidden for while as it is just an innocent wish Dorian has after seeing his portrait. I think at some point everyone had wishes like that but Oscar Wild makes this wish come true which makes it not so innocent anymore. The immortal youth of Dorian Gray is in the core of making the story an example of a supernatural Gothic genre. Lord...
Frankenstein is considered one of the most famous Gothic novels. The characters are typical to the genre with the protagonist, Dr. Frankenstein, a handsome, well-educated man that is sent to study and is about to succeed is very similar to a romantic hero but his actions lead to destruction of his life and the ones he loves, thus questioning his heroism. Frankenstein’s creature is an outcast that does not belong in this world which makes him a great gothic character. This novel belongs to the kind of Gothic where the author gives natural and scientific explanation of the events such as the scientific practices used by Dr. Frankenstein. The female characters fall into the frame of the genre as well; given the minimum significance, all three female characters of the story do not act much and die at the end. While reading the novel I enjoyed the “story within a story” structure that confused me in the beginning but made sense at the end wrapping up the story the same way as it start...
Beloved tells a story about poor, black people who used to be slaves. Sethe was a slave before and even after being free she was trapped in her own house being unwelcome from the community and haunted by all the memories of her past. She does not know what happened to her husband and the only thing she has is her children. Sethe loves her children so much that when white people come she kills her daughter to keep her “safe” from slavery comparing that kind of life with death. Cincinnati’s black community plays a crucial role in Morrison’s Beloved. Communities are complicated, it is not just a group of people living in one place. They help, accept and belong to each other. It is the community that betrayed the 124 and failed to warn them about the Schoolteacher approaching. Sethe, unable to hide, acts radically and kills her daughter. However, it is the same community that helped them to ban Beloved and prevent Sethe from making another mistake by killing Mr. Bodwin. Before ...
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