What Is Gothic?

05/15/25 • 29 min

Welcome to Celebrate Poe - What Is Gothic - Episode 373 - the first of a extended series of podcasts - at least 10 podcasts under the general subject title of Poe and Gothic literature.
This podcast episode begins with a few bars of “Come Rest in this Bosom.” Very calm, peaceful, and relaxing - and a medley that one of Edgar Poe’s beaus said was his favorite. You might say that such a relaxing melody is all the things that Gothic is not. And that leads me to one of the subjects of the next few episodes - What does Gothic mean?

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Previous Episode

Dracula and Doubles

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Welcome to Celebrate Poe - Episode 372 - Dracula and Doubles
Before we go any further, I want to give you a basic definition of a double in literature or movies - first using some fairly recent examples.
Now a "double" refers to a character or figure that acts as a duplicate or counterpart to another, often embodying opposing traits or hidden aspects of the original character's personality. This motif explores duality, fragmented identity, and moral conflict, serving as a reflection of the protagonist's inner struggles or desires. Doubles can represent repressed qualities (e.g., evil impulses), moral opposites, or even societal anxieties, creating tension and conflict that drives the narrative.
Toni Morrison’s Beloved (1987)
In this Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, the ghostly figure of Beloved acts as a double for Sethe’s guilt and trauma over her past actions. The motif highlights themes of memory, motherhood, and the haunting effects of slavery.
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Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca (1938)
While not a modern work in publication date, its influence persists in contemporary Gothic fiction. The unseen presence of Rebecca acts as a psychological double for the narrator, embodying her insecurities and fears about her identity in relation to her husband’s first wife.
These two modern examples demonstrate how the double motif remains a powerful literary tool for exploring complex psychological and social issues while maintaining its Gothic roots in creating tension and unease.

Listen to this episode to hear a theory regarding how the theme of "the double" is used in Bram Stokers Dracula!

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Next Episode

Pushing The Boundaries

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Welcome to Celebrate. Poe. Episode 374 - PUSHING THE BOUNDARIES where the ghost of Edgar Allan Poe and myself continue our discussion of how the writer surpassed the boundaries of Gothic literature
We begin this episode by continuing our discussion on how the theater might've affected your writings.

Mr. Poe: Ah, Mr. Bartley, Now the dramatic storytelling inherent in theater from parents and youth may have also contributed to my affinity for Gothic literature. My works often featured dark, mysterious settings and explored themes such as death, decay, and the supernatural.Furthermore, the artistic environment surrounding my parents’ careers could have nurtured my early interest in poetry and literature. Despite the hardships I faced after their deaths, my foundation may have laid the groundwork for my later literary achievements.

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