Gothic Beauty: Blessing or Curse?
In Gothic literature, beauty often serves as a multifaceted symbol, intertwining allure with danger, virtue with corruption, and the ephemeral nature of human existence. This complex portrayal challenges readers to question the true essence of beauty and its impact on the human psyche.
Gothic narratives frequently subvert the classical association of beauty with goodness. Characters of striking appearance may harbor dark secrets or malevolent intentions, suggesting that external allure can be deceptive. For instance, in Matthew Lewis’s The Monk (1796), Matilda initially appears as a vision of purity but is later revealed to be a corrupting force.
Beautiful people in Gothic literature often have a hypnotic power over others, leading to admiration, then destruction. Bram Stoker’s Dracula portrays female vampires whose captivating beauty ensnares male victims, emphasizing the peril of physical allure. Van Helsing observes that their beauty has the potential to hypnotize and render one vulnerable to their deadly influence.
In Edgar Allan Poe’s works, the death of a beautiful woman often symbolizes the transient nature of life and beauty. Stories like “Ligeia” and “Berenice” delve into themes of obsession and the inevitable decline of physical allure, highlighting the Gothic preoccupation with mortality and the decay of beauty. Oscar Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray shows that Dorian’s external beauty remains weirdly unchanged while his portrait melts and twists to show the corruption of his soul. In Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca, beauty hangs in the air like perfume from the first Mrs. de Winter, long after she’s gone.
Gothic literature also explores the tragedy of characters deemed monstrous due to their appearance. In Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, the Creature is initially benevolent and seeks companionship, but is met with fear and hostility because of his grotesque form. This rejection poisons this nature, leading to a nightmare cascade of events.
In my novel, Mademoiselle Frankenstein, the protagonist, Océane Frankenstein, is deeply conflicted about the matter of beauty. Unlike others who recoil at her Creature’s visage, she sees beauty in him, recognizing his humanity, depth, and especially aspects of his physical power, coloration, and beauty. At other moments, he is her grotesque monster. And she herself alters physically as a result of her machinations and travails.
In essence, Gothic literature uses beauty as an aesthetic attribute and a powerful narrative device to explore the perplexities of morality, perception, and the human condition.
What book would you say contains the most shocking example of beauty and a beast?