The Evaluation Of The Gothic Novel: From Mary Shelley To Bram Stoker

Abstract

This research paper examines the evolution of the Gothic novel from the early 19th century to the late Victorian era, focusing on Mary Shelley's Frankenstein and Bram Stoker's Dracula. Shelley's Frankenstein reflects the Romantic period's focus on nature, individualism, and scientific discovery, while Stoker's Dracula encapsulates contemporary anxieties about modernity, sexuality, disease, degeneration, and foreign invasion. The authors used Gothic tropes like the monstrous, supernatural, and uncanny to express deeper psychological and societal fears. The study also discusses the transformation in narrative technique, from Shelley's philosophical storytelling to Stoker's epistolary structure, which integrates modern technologies and fragmented perspectives. The study also highlights the shifting portrayal of gender, science, and morality within the Gothic framework, reflecting broader ideological shifts. The research highlights the adaptability and resilience of the Gothic mode, as the Gothic novel served as a form of entertainment and a lens through which authors interrogated the dominant fears and uncertainties of their time.