Comparing Phantom Of The Opera And Frankenstein

563 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Mary shelley's frankenstein and gothic

Comparing Gothic Elements in Phantom of the Opera and Frankenstein
Edgar Allen Poe notes, “Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there, wondering, fearing, doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before.” Poe is renowned for composing many successful works under the gothic literature category. Gothic works are characterized by the certain elements combined from both horror and romanticism. Various elements of gothic literature are presented in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, or the Modern Prometheus, as well as The Phantom of the Opera.
The classic novel, Frankenstein, renders full use of the gothic elements commonly found in this type of literature. Shelley uses Victor Frankenstein’s laboratory as a dark and mysterious setting in the novel. For example, Victor claims, “It was with these …show more content…

Similarly, the presence of a dark and gloomy setting appears with the reveal of the Phantom’s lair. The dimly lit hall with rolling fog provides excellent darkness to the setting. Also, the lair is only revealed during the night which contributes to the mysterious element. Furthermore, the gothic element of a supernatural being also is presented in The Phantom of the Opera. The Phantom possesses various paranormal capabilities that are displayed throughout the story. For example, the Phantom causes the chandelier in the opera house to crash to the ground without touching it. The supernatural qualities that are demonstrated by the Phantom strengthen the element of gothic literature. Additionally, the component of romance is exhibited throughout. From the early beginnings, the Phantom reveals his undying love for Christine. The romance component is best exemplified when the Phantom kidnaps Christine and attempts to force her to marry the Phantom. The gothic element is excellently displayed when the audience realizes the Phantom cannot live without

Show More
Related

  • Comparing Poe’s Fall of the House of Usher and Taylor’s Venus, Cupid, Folly and Time

    1084 Words  | 3 Pages

    Gothic texts are typically characterized by a horrifying and haunting mood, in a world of isolation and despair. Most stories also include some type of supernatural events and/or superstitious aspects. Specifically, vampires, villains, heroes and heroines, and mysterious architecture are standard in a gothic text. Depending upon the author, a gothic text can also take on violent and grotesque attributes. As an overall outlook, “gothic literature is an outlet for the ancient fears of humanity in an age of reason” (Sacred-Texts). Following closely to this type of literature, Edgar Allan Poe uses a gloomy setting, isolation, and supernatural occurrences throughout “The Fall of the House of Usher”.

    Read More

  • How does Mary Shelley use Gothic Conventions in Frankenstein?

    2545 Words  | 6 Pages

    Using gothic conventions Frankenstein explores Mary Shelley’s personal views on the scientific developments, moral and economical issues that occurred during the 19th century and Shelley’s personal emotions and questions regarding her life. As an educated person, Mary Shelley had an interest in the development of the world such as political and moral issues and she challenged these issues in the novel.

    Read More

  • The Fulfillment of the Definition of Gothic Horror by Chapters 5 and 4 of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein

    1557 Words  | 4 Pages

    The Fulfillment of the Definition of Gothic Horror by Chapters 5 and 4 of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein

    Read More

  • Mary Shelley´s Frankenstein, an Example of Gothic Romance

    717 Words  | 2 Pages

    The literary elements of remote and desolate settings, a metonymy of gloom and horror, and women in distress, clearly show “Frankenstein” to be a Gothic Romantic work. Mary Shelley used this writing style to effectively allow the reader to feel Victor Frankenstein’s regret and wretchedness. In writing “Frankenstein” Mary Shelley wrote one the most popular Gothic Romantic novels of all time.

    Read More

  • Compare And Contrast Victor Frankenstein And The Monster

    1361 Words  | 3 Pages

    The gothic novel Frankenstein by Mary Shelley highlights the idea that the real monsters of the world are humans and society, and that most traits that most humans despise are actually within all of us. Frankenstein shows that any human can be so corrupt as to be a “monster”, and that beings society considers repulsive and evil can be human at heart. Shelley exposes human faults such as hubris and irresponsibility through the main character of the novel Victor Frankenstein, who creates a living being and refuses to care for it, sending it into the unwelcoming hands of society. Victors irresponsible actions lead to many deaths and events. As the novel progresses, Dr. Victor Frankenstein and the Monster he creates become more and more similar

    Read More

  • Romanticism And Gothic Elements In Mary Shelley's Frankenstein

    715 Words  | 2 Pages

    “I do know that for the sympathy of one lives being, I would make peace with all. I have love in me the likes of which you can scarcely think and rage the likes of which you would not suppose. If I cannot sate the one, I will indulge the other.” (Shelley) Mary Shelley wrote the book Frankenstein which features many gothic elements. Some of the gothic elements in Frankenstein include dark setting and supernatural, but it sometimes gets confused with romantic literature. Shelley also had gothic element in her life. Frankenstein is the most recognizable moving piece to have ever been created.

    Read More

  • To what Extent has Gothic Literature Continued or Changed from the 18th Century to Present Day?

    1692 Words  | 4 Pages

    However, it is arguable that looking at Shelley’s Frankenstein from a modern perspective demonstrates the idea that it is a novel torn between gothic and horror as it is one of the rare novels that demonstrate gothic elements and Horror elements. Therefore, there is some continuity to how fear is presented in Frankenstein & The Woman in Black demonstrating that these two novels are examples of a postmodernist novel and pre-modernist novel, which is very rare.

    Read More

  • Frankenstein Comparison Essay

    707 Words  | 2 Pages

    As time goes on, many things tend to change, and then they begin to inherit completely different images. Over the years, the character, created by Dr. Victor Frankenstein in Mary Shelley’s famous novel, has changed dramatically. The monster, regularly called “Frankenstein,” has been featured in numerous films, such as Frankenweenie and Edward Scissorhands. Although, the characters in today’s pop culture and the monster in the well-known 1800’s novel have similarities, they are actually very different. The many similarities and differences range from the character’s physical traits and psychological traits, the character’s persona, and the character’s place in the Gothic style.

    Read More

  • Literary Devices of Gothic Literature

    1438 Words  | 3 Pages

    Gothic literature was developed during the eighteenth and nineteenth century of the Gothic era when war and controversy was too common. It received its name after the Gothic architecture that was becoming a popular trend in the construction of buildings. As the buildings of daunting castles and labyrinths began, so did the beginning foundation of Gothic literature. The construction of these buildings will later become an obsession with Gothic authors. For about 300 years before the Renaissance period, the construction of these castles and labyrinths continued, not only in England, but also in Gothic stories (Landau 2014). Many wars and controversies, such as the Industrial Revolution and Revolutionary War, were happening at this time, causing the Gothic literature to thrive (“Gothic Literature” 2011). People were looking for an escape from the real world and the thrill that Gothic literature offered was exactly what they needed. Gothic literature focuses on the horrors and the dark sides to the human brain, such as in Mary Shelley’s book Frankenstein. Gothic literature today, as well as in the past, has been able to separate itself apart from other types of literature with its unique literary devices used to create fear and terror within the reader.

    Read More

  • Gothic Theme in Chapter 5 of Frankenstein

    1554 Words  | 4 Pages

    The term ‘Gothic’ conjures a range of possible meanings, definitions and associations. It explicitly denotes certain historical and cultural phenomena. Gothicism was part of the Romantic Movement that started in the eighteenth century and lasted about three decades into the nineteenth century. For this essay, the definition of Gothic that is applicable is: An 18th century literary style characterized by gloom and the supernatural. In the Gothic novel Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, a wide range of issues are explored. Frankenstein represents an entirely new vision of the female Gothic, along with many other traditional themes such as religion, science, colonialism and myth.

    Read More

  • Comparing Frankenstein and Paradise Lost

    567 Words  | 2 Pages

    Frankenstein and Paradise Lost Striking similarities between a duo of novels are not unusual. The novel Frankenstein, by Mary Shelly, deals with a scientist named Victor Frankenstein who embodies a creature, who eventually wreaks havoc on his life. The novel Lost Paradise, by John Milton, exposes the cruelty of Christianity or the Christian God within the characters God, Satan, Adam, and Eve. Victor Frankenstein and God have many similarities, as they are both creators of incarnations. Victor's creature, known as the monster, shows striking similarities with Satan and Adam.

    Read More

  • Comparing Northanger Abbey and Frankenstein

    1787 Words  | 4 Pages

    In the examination of Northanger Abbey and Frankenstein one comes to very different conclusions as to why their authors used gothic elements. The two authors had very different purposes for their stories. Powerful emotions are often an element of gothic literature as it was a genre that took Romanticism to excessive extents. While Austen used this gothic element to satirize the gothic novel, Shelley used it to display a deeper point about the evils of ambition. Both authors exhibited characters severe emotions to show the importance of rationality instead of extremes, but ultimately had a different purpose in presenting this view.

    Read More

  • Frankenstein and the Gothic Genre

    2205 Words  | 5 Pages

    As can be seen Frankenstein utilises many of the conventions of the gothic genre and can thus be considered a gothic novel. Its links to the Romantic movement are also evident. The stereotypical settings, characters and plots, interest in the sublime, emphasis on suspense, the production of excessive emotion in the reader ( particularly that of terror and horror), the presence of the supernatural and the notion of the ’double’ are all features of Frankenstein that illustrate this.

    Read More

  • The Gothic Theme of Edgar Allen Poe's Work

    1372 Words  | 3 Pages

    Edgar Allen Poe was an English short-story writer whose work reflects the traditional Gothic conventions of the time that subverted the ambivalence of the grotesque and arabesque. Through thematic conventions of the Gothic genre, literary devices and his own auteur, Edgar Allan Poe’s texts are considered sublime examples of Gothic fiction. The Gothic genre within Poe’s work such as The Tell-Tale Heart, The Black Cat, and The Raven, arouse the pervasive nature of the dark side of individualism and the resulting encroachment of insanity. Gothic tales are dominated by fear and terror and explore the themes of death and decay. The Gothic crosses boundaries into the realm of the unknown, arousing extremes of emotion through the catalyst of disassociation and subversion of presence. Gothic literature utilises themes of the supernatural to create a brooding setting and an atmosphere of fear.

    Read More

  • Othello And Frankenstein Comparison Essay

    957 Words  | 2 Pages

    Gender inequality will always affect the way women are portrayed in society, the weaker, unnecessary, and other sex. It is not just a subject of the past, but still holds a name in society, however in the olden eras the way women were treated and are looked at, in a much more harsh condition. In Shakespeare’s Othello and Shelley’s Frankenstein women’s roles in the books are solely based on the way they are treated in their time period. The way women are portrayed in these books, demonstrate that they can never be in the same standing as men, considered the second option, and therefore will never have the same respect as men. In both Othello and Frankenstein women are treated as property, used to better men’s social standards, and lack a voice,

    Read More

More about Comparing Phantom Of The Opera And Frankenstein

Open Document