Gothic mystery novels were the popular form of entertainment before bestsellers in horror and suspense came into the scene. Classic Gothic fiction, such as the novels of Jane Austen and Emily Bronte, were a staple selection in many personal libraries. Their plots usually involve a mystery that the main character investigates, but along the way, it brings him or her into chance encounters with others who either became friend, foe or lover. By and large, these stories contain similar elements that would identify them as Gothic.
Usually, the main character has to live in a 'darkly forbidding' mansion or castle. Following the theme of the story, the weather and the mood have the same darkness. Gray-cast skies and fog-covered moors seem to prevent the sun from ever coming out and dispelling the dark mood enveloping every character in the story. Throughout the novel, this same dark atmosphere lends a threatening air to the swirling mystery surrounding the house, the town, or the protagonist.
Dialogue between characters frequently explodes with drama and hidden meanings. The personas themselves show overwrought emotion tinted with terror at something undefined. Often, the main character would be placed in a distressing situation, where he or she loses a sense of time or direction. Eventually, that character loses his or her way around the huge manor or becomes trapped in a chase through the forest.
More than the gloomy aspect of the story, a good Gothic mystery must also have a streak of the supernatural. Usually, it's the suggestion of ghosts or demon worship. Sometimes, the Devil makes an appearance. At times, the supernatural element is implied rather than explicitly described, such as rumors of a man who was like the Devil or a woman who was thought to be a witch. In most cases, the supernatural serves as the focus of the story.
However, the main character is often saved by a vision or an omen. Sometimes, it may be as ordinary as a stranger extending help in a surprising twist in the story. Even when a male character - a king, the manor's lord, or the patriarch of the clan - oppresses a female character, the main character usually finds hope in her situation. A forced marriage to a stranger or a heinous act, such as murder, becomes a saving grace. The villainous stranger whom she married turns out to be a loving prince or the death of a character starts a series of events that will lead to an inevitable conclusion.
Events surrounding the main character usually have a supernatural bent. They rarely have logical explanations, and clarity only appears once the Gothic mystery has reached its climax. At this point, the truth is revealed and a legend or prophecy comes to full circle. Sometimes, the deep, dark secrets of a family or a town are also revealed in the process. All these eventually leads back to the protagonist's arrival in the story.
Usually, the main character has to live in a 'darkly forbidding' mansion or castle. Following the theme of the story, the weather and the mood have the same darkness. Gray-cast skies and fog-covered moors seem to prevent the sun from ever coming out and dispelling the dark mood enveloping every character in the story. Throughout the novel, this same dark atmosphere lends a threatening air to the swirling mystery surrounding the house, the town, or the protagonist.
Dialogue between characters frequently explodes with drama and hidden meanings. The personas themselves show overwrought emotion tinted with terror at something undefined. Often, the main character would be placed in a distressing situation, where he or she loses a sense of time or direction. Eventually, that character loses his or her way around the huge manor or becomes trapped in a chase through the forest.
More than the gloomy aspect of the story, a good Gothic mystery must also have a streak of the supernatural. Usually, it's the suggestion of ghosts or demon worship. Sometimes, the Devil makes an appearance. At times, the supernatural element is implied rather than explicitly described, such as rumors of a man who was like the Devil or a woman who was thought to be a witch. In most cases, the supernatural serves as the focus of the story.
However, the main character is often saved by a vision or an omen. Sometimes, it may be as ordinary as a stranger extending help in a surprising twist in the story. Even when a male character - a king, the manor's lord, or the patriarch of the clan - oppresses a female character, the main character usually finds hope in her situation. A forced marriage to a stranger or a heinous act, such as murder, becomes a saving grace. The villainous stranger whom she married turns out to be a loving prince or the death of a character starts a series of events that will lead to an inevitable conclusion.
Events surrounding the main character usually have a supernatural bent. They rarely have logical explanations, and clarity only appears once the Gothic mystery has reached its climax. At this point, the truth is revealed and a legend or prophecy comes to full circle. Sometimes, the deep, dark secrets of a family or a town are also revealed in the process. All these eventually leads back to the protagonist's arrival in the story.
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