Key Issue Six : Heroes and villains in Gothic writing (Daniel / Lilas / Eléonore)

Heroes and Villains

In Gothic writing, a specific atmosphere prevails in which heroes and villains are easily distinguishable from other literature genres. 

The hero-villain relationship is often ambiguous, and in a number of works of Gothic writing, attraction and love between the two characters might even occur. 

Within heroes, boundaries opposing morality and immorality tend to be vague. 

In fact, heroes of Gothic writing—oftentimes characters of high social ranking—could be described as morally “grey,” as it is their own goodness—the hero’s tragic flaw—that brings them, through decadence, to villainy.

On the other hand, the antagonist is, from his very outset, portrayed as a flawed, lonesome, or outcast figure who must overcome obstacles in order to re-join society. 

Generally, Gothic Villains represent one of two archetypes: the Evil Father or the Dangerous Lover.

Villains who embody these figures include, respectively, Victor Frankenstein and Heathcliff from Wuthering Heights. 

Villains of Gothic writing are often males of high social ranking and, although they might appear handsome, there remains a warning sign that looks are deceiving. 

Physical features that Gothic Villains display include a dark and powerful physique, as well as piercing eyes and an expression of gloom. These characteristics are apparent to some degree in many of the most prominent antagonists and anti-heroes of Gothic literature, including Heathcliff, Schedoni, Dracula (especially in his younger form), and Mr. Hyde from The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.

Female characters who take on an aggressive masculine role in persecuting a hero or heroine who occupies a weaker position also exist, though it is more seldom seen. Victoria from Zofloya, and Maleficent from The Sleeping Beauty exemplify such characters. 

The interest in Gothic Villains usually stems from the chaotic combination of light and darkness within the character, which makes them more complex than a simple monster or tyrant. However, this amalgam is also a source of fear or horror as the villain reveals the deeply conflicted nature that is common to humanity. As Elizabeth McAndrew points out, “the struggle between their good nature and their evil propensities is what awakens echoes of real nightmare in the reader.”

 

USEFUL LINKS:

·         https://owlcation.com/humanities/The-Gothic-Novel-What-is-Gothic-Literature (“characteristics of the Gothic Villain or Antagonist” part)

·         https://www.bartleby.com/essay/The-Gothic-Villain-PKR5EN3VC

(the start of the essay might be resourceful)

·         https://epublications.marquette.edu/gothic_hero/

·         https://wickedends.wordpress.com/characteristics-of-the-gothic-villain/

 

CONNECTION TO DG:

·         Dorian Gray is a young, handsome, wealthy young man. Under the influence of Lord Henry Wotton, Dorian becomes extremely concerned with beauty and begins to pursue his own pleasure above all else. Natural curiosity and a good nature are what brings Dorian Gray towards moral decline and makes him the perfect definition of an anti-hero.

·         Lord Henry is a wealthy man, possessed of wrong and poisonous, but fascinating and delightful theories. He is a charming and seductive talker of famous wit and makes Dorian fall under his spell. What Dorian feels towards Lord Henry are mixed feelings as his company delights him, but he also feels anger for the fact that Lord Henry gave him a book of corrupting influence.

·         Once Dorian Gray has become an anti-hero, his eternal beauty is a sign of both admiration and fear: the man’s handsome face inspires virtue, while his everlasting youth questions the law of nature. In reality, Dorian’s pleasing physique hides evil motivations.

·         The main antagonist, Lord Henry, is from the very outset of the novel, described by Basil Hallward as untrustworthy and extremely poisonous. When Lord Henry and Dorian first meet, Basil begs him not to influence Dorian Gray.

 

Closing Comments on Dorian Gray 2022:

In his search for intellectual enlightenment Dorian Gray follows Lord henry’s practices and falls into a deep well of evil effectively making him a villain as people fall victim to his crimes and finally this is confirmed by the death or murder of Basil who originally was the hero opposing Lord Henry’s evil. 

There is also an ambiguous relationship between hero and villain since Basil confessed his feelings to Dorian. dorian rejects Basil showing us that love and kindness has no place in this novel.

Even though Dorian can be considered as a villain in the end of the book, in the build up to his heinous acts he can also be considered a victim. A victim of Lord Henry and evil. For example after Sybil Vane’s suicide Dorian does feel a tinge of remorse but this all goes away the second Lord Henry starts talking to him “And yet I must admit that this thing that has happened does not affect me as it should. It seems to me to be simply like a wonderful ending to a wonderful play. It has all the terrible beauty of a Greek tragedy, a tragedy in which I took a great part, but by which I have not been wounded”.

Even though in most novels villains are portrayed as emotionless or cruel, we can clearly see the person who is affected by his emotions most of the time is not Basil(hero) but Dorian (villain). For example when Dorian and basil sit in front of the portrait in chapter 13 the one who gets frustrated and affected is Dorian not Basil.  “On his return he would sit in front of the picture, sometimes loathing it and himself, but filled, at other times, with that pride of individualism that is half the fascination of sin, and smiling, with secret pleasure, at the misshapen shadow that had to bear the burden that should have been his own.”

“One  thing, however, he felt that [the painting] had done for him. It had made him conscious how unjust, how cruel, he had been to Sibyl Vane.” When Dorian comes to realize the painting changed, he becomes conscious of the evil and cruelty of his actions. This being said, Basil Hallward can be considered a hero as his canvas gives Dorian Gray a chance to remain good by showing him what sins he has committed. However, Lord Henry has heavy influence over Dorian, therefore keeping the young man from  repairing his bad actions and staying good. Thus making Henry a villain.

Dorian Gray’s evil actions are not motivated by personal feelings, but rather by a morbid longing for the picturesque at all costs. Indeed, “there were moments when he looked on evil simply as mode through which he could realize his conception of the beautiful” (p.116). Dorian Gray’s acts are therefore truly villainous as he has no “real” reason to commit these actions.