The Gothic Genre, Romanticism and Realism

Gothic as stemming from romanticism

Romanticism was a reaction to the enlightenment and industrial revolution. During the enlightenment society values science and reason – there was little regard given to feeling or emotion. Society was bent on industrialisation – London became city of factories producing a smog which is said to have covered the city. There was no thought for the environment or social implications. Like romanticism, the Gothic genre explores the psychology and emotions of characters. The fears and monsters constructed in Gothic literature are often based on psychological fears. Gothic borrows the picturesque setting from romanticism and urbanisation is also portrayed negatively. Gothic fiction often plays with the ‘urban space’ – the negative portrayal on of the urban setting and the concept that bad things happen within this space. 

Gothic as a reaction to realism

Realism was an upcoming genre at the time. Realist writers aimed at producing texts which were believable and felt realistic even though much of their content was idealistic. They often employed realistic forms such as telling a story by a series of letters. Gothic reacts to this by employing otherworldly settings. Picturesque but unsettling castles, dungeons and basements. The characters are often ghosts or monsters. And of course, there are magic paintings…

Its interesting to note that Wilde wasn’t the first to come up with ‘soul revealing’ painting concept. Family Portraits by Baptiste Eryies, another work of Victorian gothic literature, also employs a painting (painted by a ghost of course) that reveals the true character of the evil protagonist. As their sins are atoned for, it becomes somewhat less harrowing.

The Byronic Hero

Lord Byron was a prominent romantic poet. Though highly educated and a member of the highly respected aristocracy. He engaged a multitude of instances of what one could call ‘scandalous conduct’. His character and his poetry – which draws on his own persona – has inspired later writers to create a character that parallels Byron. An educated and highly respectable member of society, but this hero plagued an often sinister flaw.  The strange case of Dr Jeckyll and Mr Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson is centred on a Byronic character. 

Dr Jeckyll is a highly respected benevolent member of society given that he is an academic. Secretly however he has passions that are far less acceptable. So that he can explore his callous and barbaric urges without implicating himself he transforms himself into his vehement alter ego Mr Hyde. In this character is also like that of Dorian Grey in that he lives a sinful double life. Dorian is thus another embodiment of the Byronic Hero.