I don’t like to pick favourites when it comes to literature. Every form and genre have so much to offer; to stick to one would be an injustice to the bouts of marvellous creations out there. However, it can be said that I’m particularly fond of the gothic genre. From the moment I picked up Bram Stoker’s Dracula, I fell in love. What could be more appealing than an entire genre dedicated to the strange and abnormal? Dracula was the perfect entrance to the gothic culture for me.

Naturally, being drawn to the genre in sixth form meant I formed some strong opinions around the authenticity to anything under the gothic category. My main confliction still stands. Is modern gothic fiction a fair representation of the genre or an attempt at imitating true gothic literature?

Today, I want to iterate that modern gothic fiction cannot be classified as true gothic.

Gothic Genre Tropes Over Time

When I think of the gothic genre, I’m reminded of its significant tropes. The components which make the gothic stand out is its unique features. Riddled in most gothic texts, you can find classic pathetic fallacy, psychological disorder and isolated settings. In my opinion, the critical point of any gothic fiction is its acknowledgement of the Other. The Other refers simply to things that aren’t considered “normal”; things that are taboo.

Take the character of Lucy Westenra in Dracula, a new, alien kind of 19th century woman. Her multiple love interests and amplified sexual desire sets her aside from the standards of the typical 19th century woman. Similarly, look at Mr. Hyde in The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde – the literal ‘other’ counterpart of Harry Jekyll. Hyde’s purpose in the novel is to function as the duality of man – the standard versus the taboo.

How Has That Changed?

Gothic literature uses otherness to shock the conservative readers of the 1800s. Whereas, in the 21st century, a woman, independent and open with her sexuality, is less of a revelation. Homosexual undertones prevalent in gothic texts like Bram Stoker’s Dracula and Le Fanu’s Carmilla were considered negative and even horrific – hence the classification of the Other.

In the modern world, where we consider same-gender attraction a norm rather than an oddity, the Other doesn’t have much of a leg to stand on. As a society we are a lot more accepting and positive about conflicts of the past. Breaking the standard is celebrated and that’s a good thing. There just isn’t that shock factor in those gothic tropes anymore. If someone wrote a novel right now, wherein one man seduces another man, I honestly think no one would bat an eye. The Other has lost its effect on audiences.

Where Does The Modern Gothic Genre Stand?

When I refer to modern gothic, I’m talking about anything post-19th century. Works such as The Statement of Randolph Carter by H.P Lovecraft and Easton-Ellis’s American Psycho.

Lovecraftian readers out there like to think that his works are revolutionary when, in my opinion, they tend to feed off of the gothic genre and lack originality. I’m not being brutal just because I dislike Lovecraft as a person, I genuinely also dislike his writing! I cannot see myself being able to get through one of his books due to the overuse of (for lack of a better phrase) wordy language. While this language is natural and relevant to true gothic fiction, the archaism in The Statement of Randolph Carter comes across incredibly forced as though he’s trying to mimic classic gothic literature.

I find this the case in most modern gothic texts. The beauty of the language in stories like Carmilla are a charm of their time. Modern texts copying this feel a bit faux. Much like Strawberry Hill House is a plain recreation of integral gothic architectural tropes, most modern gothic literature is an imitation of the true genre. So where does modern gothic stand? Well, the reason it’s identified as “modern gothic” is because it’s just that. A modern version of the real gothic genre. An attempt to pay homage to the classics of the 18th/19th century.

Final Thoughts

The gothic genre in itself, is timeless. It can be enjoyed whenever as beautifully written and compelling stories in their given contexts. However, to write a gothic text now does not hold the same authenticity as it would’ve when the genre was originally established. That is not to say you cannot write gothic fiction today. In my opinion it would just be classified as modern gothic, the new wave in which it’s much more about the dark and horrific aesthetic of the classics.

Do you believe that all gothic texts fall under one category or are there different ages of the gothic genre? I’m curious as to what you think – let me know in the comments whether you agree with myself or see it a different way 🙂

Happy reading!

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