From Castle to Crypt: A Gothic Exploration of Shakespearean Drama and Victorian Fiction

This study critically examines the Gothic elements in two seminal Shakespearean tragedies, Macbeth and Hamlet, and two influential Victorian novels, Wuthering Heights and Jane Eyre. It explores the interplay of Gothic themes, settings, and character development across these works, contextualizing them within the broader literary and historical frameworks of the Renaissance and Victorian eras. Employing a qualitative methodology that combines thematic and textual analysis, the research investigates the presence and evolution of critical Gothic motifs, including supernatural phenomena, psychological unrest, and moral decay. Through close analysis of these texts, the study elucidates how Gothic elements shape narrative atmosphere, influence character trajectories, and reflect broader cultural anxieties. The findings reveal how Gothic features persist across literary periods, evolving from the external, supernatural influences in Shakespeare’s plays to the more psychological and inward-focused Gothic elements in Victorian fiction. This comparative exploration enhances our understanding of the Gothic genre’s versatility and its continued relevance in addressing the darker facets of human experience.