The Woman in White - As A Gothic Novel

The Woman in White is a novel by Wilkie Collins, published in 1860.
It is considered as one of the first and most influential examples of the

Gothic novel genre, which combines elements of horror, mystery, romance, and psychological realism. Here are some of the reasons why The
Woman in White is a Gothic novel:
It features a mysterious and menacing villain, Count Fosco, who is a master of disguise, manipulation, and deception. He plots to steal the
fortune and identity of the heroine, Laura Fairlie, by marrying her to his accomplice (associate), Sir Percival Glyde, and then confining her to an
asylum under the name of Anne Catherick, a woman who resembles her and who is also known as the Woman in White. Fosco is described as a
“gigantic human monster” who keeps exotic pets and experiments on animals. He is also a member of a secret society that has the power to ruin
or protect him.
It features a brave and resourceful heroine, Marian Halcombe, who is Laura’s half-sister and protector. She is not conventionally beautiful, but
she is intelligent, loyal, and courageous. She defies the social norms of her time by dressing as a man, spying on the villains, and helping the
hero, Walter Hartright, to expose their crimes and rescue Laura. She is also the narrator of a large part of the novel, giving her a voice and agency
(action) that is rare for female characters in Victorian literature.
It features a supernatural and mysterious element, the Woman in White, who is Anne Catherick, the illegitimate daughter of Laura’s father. She
escapes from the asylum where she is held by Sir Percival and Fosco, and wanders the countryside in a white dress, haunting the lives of the
main characters. She has a connection to Laura, whom she calls her “sister in white”, and warns her of the danger she faces from Sir Percival. She
also has a connection to Walter, whom she meets on a moonlit road at the beginning of the novel, and who is struck by her resemblance to
Laura. She is the key to the mystery of Sir Percival’s past and the secret of his identity.
It features a Gothic setting, Limmeridge House, the ancestral home of the Fairlies, where Laura and Marian live. It is a large and isolated
mansion, surrounded by a park and a lake, where strange and sinister events take place. It is also the place where Walter first falls in love with
Laura, and where he later returns to solve the mystery and reunite with her. The novel also includes other Gothic settings, such as the asylum
where Laura and Anne are imprisoned, the churchyard where Sir Percival’s secret is revealed, and the Italian villa where Fosco meets his fate.
It features a Gothic style, using multiple narrators, letters, diaries, and documents to create a sense of realism and suspense just like “Dracula”
by Bram Stoker. The novel is presented as a collection of testimonies from different witnesses, each with their own perspective and personality,
who contribute to the unfolding of the plot. The novel also uses Gothic devices, such as foreshadowing (a warning or indication of a future
event), cliff-hangers (an ending to an episode of a serial drama that leaves the audience in suspense), coincidences, and revelations, to keep the
reader engaged and surprised. The novel also explores Gothic themes, such as identity, madness, secrets, betrayal, and justice, and challenges
the social and moral values of the Victorian era.
The Woman in White is considered a Gothic novel because it combines the elements of horror, mystery, romance, and psychological realism, in a
complex and suspenseful plot, told by multiple narrators, and set in a remote and gloomy setting. The novel is also a sensation novel, a subgenre
of the Gothic novel, that focuses on shocking and sensational events. The novel is innovative and original in its use of narrative techniques and
media, and influential and popular in its impact and legacy. The novel is a masterpiece of the Victorian literature, and a classic of the English
language.

The Woman in White - As A Gothic Novel

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

The Woman in White - As A Gothic Novel

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

The Woman in White - As A Gothic Novel

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

The Woman in White is a novel by Wilkie Collins, published in 1860.

It is considered as one of the first and most influential examples of the

You might also like

Pfad - The Proxy pFad of © 2024 Garber Painting. All rights reserved.