The Woman In White, by Wilkie Collins

The Woman In White, by Wilkie Collins, is a successful gothic novel

of the 19th century. It is a 3-volume novel; each volume (epoch)

finishing with the reader eagerly waiting to read the next one, therefore

there are many unanswered questions, in or...

The Woman In White, by Wilkie Collins, is a successful gothic novel of

the 19th century. It is a 3-volume novel; each ‘volume’ (epoch)

finishing with the reader eagerly waiting to read the next one,

therefore there are many unanswered questions, in order for the reader

to continue reading. There is a lot of mystery involved up until the

very end of the whole story, where everything is then revealed; ‘The

Woman In White’ is a good example of how mystery and suspense are used

by the cliff-hangers that are present.

The contents for a gothic novel conventionally contain an innocent

heroine (Laura Fairlie/Anne Catherick), villain (Sir Percival Glyde)

and a hero (Walter Hartwright/Marian Holocomb). Generally gothic

novels had a transgression where everything went against god and all

that was good. It had excessive reactions and ideas, for example the

villain was truly evil, and the heroine was weak and feeble and needed

rescuing, they were incapable of independent action. They were

sublime, awe-inspiring and beyond life, they were fantasy ideas.

However ‘The Woman In White’ fits into the Excess category, where the

characters are exaggerated into their roles, and a lot of mystery and

suspense is created.

Typically gothic novels are set in large and intimidating buildings

like a castle, like in this case, Blackwater Park, or they are very

isolated, like Limmeridge. Supernatural or inexplicable events may

take place, which create an atmosphere of mystery ...

... middle of paper ...

... many questions that we had are finally

answered. We find out that Percival’s big secret was that he was born

illegitimately and he did not want anyone to know as it might ruin his

reputation. We also discover that Fosco and Percival were in on the

plot together to claim the money. The reason for why Anne and Laura

resembled each other so much is because they had the same father.

Anne and Laura’s bodies were swapped so really Anne Catherick died.

There is more back-story given of Mrs Catherick, Anne, and Fosco’s

past. Walter is on a mission to prove all of this and prove Laura’s

existence and a nice conclusion is placed where they get married so

they live happily ever after. Good conquers evil, as it should be.

Gothic novels have mystery and suspense as a fundamental part of the

narrative, and it is apparent that this is true in ‘The Woman In

White’.