Mexican Gothic, Written By Silvia Moreno-Garcia

Mexican Gothic: The Critical Option

Every human being will experience death at some point in their lifetime because it is one of life's unavoidable realities. In the Gothic horror book, "Mexican Gothic," written by Silvia Moreno-Garcia, the Ouroboros is an excellent example of everlasting life and rebirth. In this case, it is a terrifying illustration of the Doyle family's aspirations. Throughout the novel, the Doyle family crest, which depicts a snake biting its own tail, symbolizes death throughout the book. It also represents a craving so intense that it resorts to rape, violence, and mental enslavement in order to get what it desires.

In the gothic novel, Noemi Taboada, a twenty-two-year-old socialite, receives a troubling letter from her recently married cousin,

For instance, on page 186, Noemi is having a chat with Virgil in the middle of the night in his bedroom after having a shockingly vivid sexual dream that features Virgil and his forceful masculinity. Noemi speaks the opening sentences of the following conversation: “Were you in my room?... I thought I was in your dream…It did not feel like a dream…What did it feel like?... Like an intrusion,” Noemi said. Although it is hinted at vaguely, the reader can assume that Virgil utilizes the gloom to his advantage in order to satisfy his disgusting needs and sexually assault Noemi several times throughout the novel. Virgil is a cunning man who utilizes his charms to be able to get away with manipulating Noemi. The Doyle males raise some red flags. The Doyle family seems to be fixated on the concept of eugenics and "racial purity," which ends up resulting in extensive inbreeding and an ongoing desire to add "new blood" to the family. The family’s obsession with life and death results in them going to extreme measures to keep their family essentially