Gothic Elements In Frankenstein And Tell-Tale Heart

“To what extent does the inclusion of romanticism undermine the impact of the gothic elements in Shelly’s ‘Frankenstein’ and Poe’s “Tell-Tale Heart’?”
The literary works in the 19th century were heavily influenced by the Romantic Era that originated in the late 18th century and signaled a period radically contrasting to its preceding era, the Age of Enlightenment , in the sense that emotions were valued more than reason, and the human intuition was key, science was seldom regarded and imagination was encouraged, these changes reflected themselves on the literary works during this period, including the works explored in this essay, as well as on other fields such as music, visual arts, etc . Romanticism is defined as “An artistic and intellectual movement characterized by a heightened interest in nature, emphasis on the individual's expression of emotion and imagination.” ‘Frankenstein’ and ‘Tell-Tale Heart’, both regarded as gothic works, show elements of romanticism incorporated within, this essay will study to what extent this inclusion undermines the impact of the gothic elements of each work.
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While both emphasize on the human emotion and its significance as opposed to reason, dark romantics emphasize on the darkness of the human nature, showing that humans are inherently malevolent, showing a radical contrast to the aforementioned elements. Dark supernatural elements are incorporated as well as dark nature, morbid setting, character’s psychological state are all tools highlighted within this genre. The themes associated include death, murder, insanity, evil and darkness. Therefore, the feelings ensued are ones of fear, horror and sorrow, this gives rise to the Gothic features and highlight them. This section will explore the employment of dark romance in both works and their effect on the gothic