It’s that time of year again– the Halloween costumes have been retired to the back of the closet.
The macabre animatronics of Grim Reapers and ghosts have been taken down; the various bat and spider-themed motifs have been swept away. With overflowing buckets of candy, you conclude that this Halloween was a fruitful one, after all.
It would seem that the time for sinister scares is over.
For the reader who mourns the end of this particular time of year, here is a curated list of classic Gothic horror literature picks that should keep the spirit of the spooky season alive, if only a little longer.
- The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
The Picture of Dorian Gray follows the story of the protagonist, Dorian Gray, who trades away his soul to preserve his spectacular beauty and youth and pursues a life of thoughtless moral decay. The titular portrait withers and ages in his place, and the psychological terror of the novel comes from witnessing the slow corruption of the human soul amidst Dorian’s growing sense of paranoia.
This Gothic horror novel is rife with social commentary on the lofty standards and superficiality of Victorian society, the fleeting nature of external beauty, and the destructive consequences of unbridled hedonism.
In an era of social media, fleeting trends, and appearances, the themes and philosophy of this novel remain relevant. Wilde raises several thought-provoking questions throughout the novel regarding the essence of human fulfillment, the philosophical purpose of art, and the faults of a society that emphasizes aesthetics over ethics.
I highly recommend this novel for the reader who likes their spooky with a dash of philosophy.
- Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus by Mary Shelley
Often credited as the first science fiction novel and written during the height of the Industrial Revolution, Frankenstein is the story of ambitious scientist Victor Frankenstein’s creation of a sentient being. Repulsed by the grotesque appearance of his own creation, Frankenstein spurns the creature. The creature goes on to develop emotional intelligence, learn language, and seek companionship but faces rejection for his horrifying appearance.
Shelley raises questions about the responsibility of creation, the consequences of technological ambition gone unchecked, the spectrum of human emotion, and the very essence of humanity. This novel has philosophical and scientific themes and is highly relevant in a time of rapid technological advancement and scientific progress.
- Dracula by Bram Stoker
Count Dracula– another one of the most famous cultural icons of this time period has inspired numerous films, books, and modern retellings. An epistolary novel narrated from the perspectives of various characters, the reader is transformed into an active participant as they piece together details through letters, telegrams, and diary entries of this spine-chilling tale.
From Jonathan Harker’s creeping dread that Count Dracula may not be all he seems to be in eerie Transylvania, to the otherworldly havoc wreaked on Harker’s circle in England, the old world clashes with the new in this adventure in traditional Gothic fashion. This novel raises questions of superstition versus science and features several Victorian character archetypes.
- The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson
A novella exploring the duality of man and the complexities of human nature, The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is an intriguing amalgamation of science fiction, philosophical inquiry, and psychological horror.
The story unfolds through the investigation of lawyer Gabriel John Utterson, who becomes increasingly entangled in the mysterious relationship between his esteemed friend, Dr. Henry Jekyll, and the cruel and violent Edward Hyde. Beneath its unsettling narrative lies a social commentary on Victorian society’s preoccupation with respectability, reputation, and outward appearances. This tale delves into the darker impulses that may lurk beneath even the most respectable of exteriors.