The Gothic elements that can be seen in Literature have been prominent for many years. However, when it comes to romance novels and book writers the understanding and the meaning of Gothic elements became far more superior and different.
Through the works of Writers like Irving, Poe, and Hawthorne the utilization of Gothic elements were made in an attempt to create a sense of mystery around the concept of romance itself. The combination of mystery and darkness with romance is something that resonates and connects well with literature readers and is also an Avenue that directly connects with subjects like paranormal as well as extra Terrestrial in literature.
In account to understand the difference between the subject matter written by these writers, it becomes extremely easy to channel and understand the interpretation of the element of Gothic literature itself. To distinguish between the subject matter when going through the work of Washington Irving quotes from his well-known book The Sleepy Hollow ” To Look upon its grass-grown yard, where the sunbeams seem to sleep so quietly, one would think that there at least the dead might rest in peace” there is a common pattern of him utilizing Gothic ideologies through his observation of the environment(Irving). On the other hand, the works of Nathaniel Hawthorne through his work in the Blithedale Romance which quotes ” death should take me while I am in the mood” can become a direct reflection of one’s mindset and inner feelings through the Gothic approach(Hawthorne).
Edgar Allan Poe in his book The raven quotes ” deep into the Darkness peering, long I stood there, wondering, fearing, doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before”(Poe). His words directly reflect his ideology being relevant to his understanding of these situations and his mindset all at once.
The easier way of distinguishing the concept of subject matter between the writers is the interpretation of a specific format in their work which makes it an easy job.
References
Hawthorne, Nathaniel. “The Blithedale Romance”. Goodreads.Com, 1852,
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/50776.The_Blithedale_Romance.
Irving, Washington. “The Legend Of Sleepy Hollow And Other Stories”. Goodreads.Com, 1820,
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/721012.The_Legend_of_Sleepy_Hollow_and_Other_Stories.
Poe, Edgar Allan. “The Raven By Edgar Allan Poe”. Theravenpoe.Com, 1845, https://theravenpoe.com/.