Gothic Resurgence: Tracing the Evolution of Elements from the 18th Century

Abstract

Gothic is now a significant genre that rules the artistic world in India and is loved, appreciated, and demanded by the audience. Gothic evolved further in India as the cruelty imposed by the British Raj increased, and slavery, discrimination, loss, pain, and war inspired the authors to write more about them. People could relate more to the Gothic genre because it was either a reflection of their current situations or the fiction in these stories was a distraction from their everyday problems. This paper aims at the emergence of the numerous elements related to Gothicism. It will also uncover the rising popularity of these Gothic elements in the country since the 18th Century. Many gothic elements, like horror, fear, mystery, supernatural, sadism, etc., are an integral part of the Gothic genre, drawing not just readers towards the genre but also inspiring the next generation of writers. The aspects highlighted in this paper include the various elements used in Gothic literature since the 18th Century and why people are attracted to this genre.