Gothic Settings And Imagery In Gothic Literature

Question Two:

The settings and imagery in gothic in gothic fiction make monstrous characters more frightening than they would be otherwise.

Since medieval era, gothic is well known as a fiction which always had been connected with mystery, darkness, and past. Thus, gothic was associated with old religious and often using the old building for the settings. Furthermore, setting is one of the most important parts in a story because settings can build an atmosphere and communicate with the reader. Usually, gothic stories use cemeteries and old castles as the place setting and for the time setting, gothic story usually at night or in dark places. On the other hand, imagery also often used to clarify the circumstances of how creepy the situation

In the first chapter in the Varney the Vampyre’s story is written with the sentence “MIDNIGHT.-THE HAIL-STORM” (Rymer, 1845 : p.1) denotes that the time settings in the story happened at midnight and followed by an ice storm ; it shows a gripping and frightening situation. Followed by the next paragraph, “[t]he solemn tones of an old cathedral clock” (p.1) describe a past situation which related to old religious especially catholic. Furthermore, the phrase “… the storm raged! Hail-rain-wind. It was, in very truth, an awful night” (p.1) wanted to clarify it happened in a silent night and only the sound of thunderstorm at that time. Thus, the words of ‘storm,’rain,’hail,’wind,’ and ‘awful night’ are repeated continuously to symbolize how severe the weather and wanted to show a creepy and tense circumstances. Moreover, ‘ancient house’ (p.1) and ‘a girl young and beautiful’ (p.2) denotes a girl who not protected of the uncivilized world, on the other hand it also connected with the phrase “[w]ho sleeps now in that ancient city? Not one living soul” (p.2); this possible connotation is that the setting is in an isolated place. Likewise, the phrase “[a]nother flash— a wild, blue, bewildering flash of lightning streams across that bay window, for an instant bringing out every color in it with terrible” (p.2) describe the settings that makes the vampire more

Jekyll and Mr Hyde, the settings show the characteristic of the figure and the situation in the story. Mostly, the time settings in the story is happened on the night. Furthermore, the phrase “founded in a similar catholicity” (Stevenson, 1886 : p.4) symbolize the setting have a relation with catholic religion where it became a contrast in a gothic story. Moreover, there is a “[b]lack-Mail House” (p.8) which has something hidden in it and very risky if entered into the house ; the house is inhabited by a strange man called Mr. Hyde. On the other hand, the phrase “[r]ound the corner from the by-street, there was a square of ancient,… at the door of this, which wore a great air of wealth and comfort … though it was now plunged in darkness except for the fan-light” (p.20) expound the house was located away from the crowds, with ancient building, and it also equipped with an aura that brings the atmosphere of wealth and comfort; “though it was now plunged in darkness except for the fan-light” clarify the situation of darkness and it only equipped with a dim light. Therefore, it makes a situation more frightening. While Mr. Utterson and Mr.Enfield saw Dr. Jekyll on the window, the phrase “the smile was struck out of his face and succeeded by an expression of such abject terror and despair” expound the expression of Dr.Jekyll when he transformed into a monstrous character which made Mr.Utterson and Mr. Enfield turned