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Comparison of Gothic Literature

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Submitted By lesaverz285
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In the gothic genre (whether in the form of music, art, or literature) a flare for drama seems to be a common thread throughout. In the book the Castle of Otranto, the protagonist Theodore is a classic prince charming. He is always willing to protect a damsel in distress and there is no shortage of those in this story. Theodore is a very passionate man and falls so deeply in love with Matilda that he is willing to risk his life in order to protect and be with her. Likewise, the man from the song “The Unquiet Grave" by Faith and the Muse is also deeply passionate about the woman he loves. Both The Castle of Otranto and “The Unquiet Grave” have elements of supernatural happenings which enhance the drama of the plot. In this essay, I will describe the similarities of the two main characters from each piece of writing being reviewed, as well as which method of coping with grief I found most satisfactory.
Theodore and the young man in the song appear to have many similar personality and behaviour traits. Theodore is considered very valiant and noble by many of the characters in the book, particularly the women. An example of this adoration for Theodore comes from a statement that Bianca (Matilda’s handmade) makes to Manfred stating that “he is as comely a youth as ever trod on christian ground: we are all in love with him: there is not a soul in the castle but would be rejoiced to have him for our prince” (Walpole, 1764, p. 122). Theodore also shows immense loyalty to the women that he encounters in the story and he develops strong feelings for Matilda quickly. This is portrayed in the scene where Matilda releases Theodore from prison and “he vow[s] on the earliest opportunity to get himself knighted, and fervently entreat[s] her permission to swear himself eternally her knight” (Walpole, 1764, p. 86). Likewise, the young man from the song could be considered very

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