I have been reading the book 'Great Expectations' and analysing the key elements of the book which could reference to the gothic era, the book however is not from the Gothic Horror genre.
Clashing time periods is a strong element associated with gothic literature, and one of the first things I noticed about the book as I began reading was that it was Pip in the future referring back to the past which left me questioning the validity of the detail and truthfulness of the story. During the beginning I feel that there is an uncomfortable element surrounding the language that Pip uses as I think that the language is very grown up and does not fit with the young character that Dickens is trying to portray, 'But at last I began, in a purblind groping way, to read, write and cipher on the very smallest scale.' Throughout the book there are references to Pip's new found intelligence and gentleman status as he recounts certain events from the past. Another element of clashing time periods within the book is the frozen in time Miss Havisham and Satis House. In the book Dickens writes, 'I took note of the surrounding objects in detail, and saw that her watch had stopped at twenty minutes to nine, and that the clock in the room had stopped at twenty minutes to nine'. This stoppage in time clashes with the decaying and age gained by Miss Havisham herself as well as the surrounding objects in the room where Pip first meets her, 'I saw that everything within my view which ought to be white, had been white long ago, and had lost its lustre, and was faded and yellow.' The house has been metaphorically stuck in time but inevitable destruction has ensued by the the unstoppable. One of the main features of the Gothic era was the step back in time to put off future uncertainties. I believe in a way this is what Miss Havisham is doing by never leaving the house and keeping everything within it constant.
Strange places are also a key feature in Gothic literature. Throughout the story Pip finds himself in many strange places and situations. For me the strangest place of all is Satis House which is inhabited by Miss Havisham and Estella and the location where Pip receives his first encounter with both of them. When Pip first arrives at the house he describes it as, 'old brick, and dismal. and had a great many iron bars to it. Some of the windows had been walled up ; of those that remained, all of the lower were rustily barred.' This description instantly brings an air of mystery surrounding the house and leaves me asking question such as, are the inhabitants scared of the outside world? Is there a threatening presence in the area? Are the bars there to stop people getting in or out? As the story goes on I believe the first question to be answered, Miss Havisham is clearly wary of the outside world and the movement of time and change, she has almost imprisoned herself in her own misery experienced in the past. Much of the beginning of the book is set upon the marshes. Marshes have been a popular location for many authors who want to bring a feeling of uneasiness or terror to their readers. To me marshes are a strange place as the conditions on them can change quickly, they can feel eerie, and the uneven footing makes them dangerous. The marshes clearly makes Pip afraid as Dickens writes, 'the dark flat wilderness beyond the churchyard, intersected with dykes and mounds and gates, with scattered cattle feeding on it, was the marshes ; and that the distant savage lair from which the wind was rushing, was the sea ; and that the small bundle of shivers growing afraid of it all and beginning to cry, was Pip.'
Sexual power features regularly in Gothic literature and throughout most the of the book Estella holds great sexual power over Pip, this power was instigated by Miss Havisham whom, on Pip and Estella's first encounter, encouraged him to focus on her for her looks and encourages him to come back because he thought of Estella as, 'pretty'. Throughout the book Pip is keen to become a more intelligent gentlemen to make him suitable for Estella, the power she has over him makes him willing to leave his home and change his future. I think Pip almost has an obsession over her because she made him question his life and upbringing and did not like receiving insults from her. He was drawn to her by her strength and pose.
There are many instances of terror created throughout the book, terror is an intense fear and apprehension over your safety and wellbeing. Terror which turns to horror is a key element in Gothic literature. I think there are two key moments in the book where Pip feels terror. The first time his terror is highlighted is the first encounter he has with the convict Magwich. Before they meet Pip is already scared of the marshes and close to tears, this premonition of fear makes the reader uncomfortable as, you also worry for him. The quick change from terror to horror when the convict grabs him and cries, ' Hold your noise!', is sudden which is also more terrifying as it catches you off guard. Another time where I believe Pip feels terror is when the soldiers come to the forge to investigate the disappearance of the two convicts. Dickens writes, 'And then they stood about, as soldiers do ; now, with their hands loosely clasped before them now; now, resting a knee or a shoulder ; now, easing a belt or a pouch ; now, openning the door to spit stiffly over their high stocks, out into the yard. All these things I saw without the knowing that I saw them, for I was in an agony of apprehension.'. This apprehension he feels towards being arrested for helping the convict is very tense, even for the reader.
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