Write a critical appreciation of Sakis Shredni Vashtar putting it in the context of your reading in the Gothic tradition Essay Example

Write a critical appreciation of Sakis Shredni Vashtar putting it in the context of your reading in the Gothic tradition Essay Example Write a critical appreciation of Sakis Shredni Vashtar putting it in the context of your reading in the Gothic tradition Essay Write a critical appreciation of Sakis Shredni Vashtar putting it in the context of your reading in the Gothic tradition Essay Shredni Vashtar (1910) is a story of relationships and escape. It is an example of equivocal gothic, according to Montague Summers categorizations in his essay The Gothic Quest: A history of the Gothic novel (1938). The story is typical to the Gothic genre as it contains ideas of exploring the unconscious, and the idea of metaphorical constraints (like those of Conradin due to his illness and his controlling guardian) represented by physical and literal constraints (like that of Shredni Vashter). Conradin is a curious character, whos reality seems to drive him into his own imagination, as he feels happier in his own world than in the world of Mrs. De Ropp. Freud in his works spoke about two major principles, the pleasure principle which opposes the reality principle. Conradin bases his life on the principle of escaping his reality in search of happiness and pleasure in his own world Perhaps Conradins masking of his dislike for Mrs. De Ropp is an element of the pleasure principle which avoids conflict and displeasure in favour of gratification and happiness. Gothic novels are often praised for exploring (and often prematurely) ideas, which Freud explored and legitimised. An important element of Gothic is infertility, as it represents death and paths the way for the authors vivid description of the narrators or characters surroundings. In this story, the dull, cheerless garden with few fruit trees and dismal shrubbery seems to reflect Conradins own life, which is full of wearisome things. The garden is described as an arid waste which creates the uncanny atmosphere so needed for a successful Gothic story. The subject of the uncanny is a Freudean idea used frequently in Gothic to arouse a sense of dread, horror and terror. The Gothic makes places obviously unheimlich (or un-homely) such as The Garden, or Heimlich (homely) such as the shed, which is described as a haven to create differing dimensions of fear from the locations in the story. The Garden is used to represent Conradins reality, always under surveillance by Mrs. De Ropp as it is overlooked by so many windows. The Shed however is representative of Conradins imagination, an escape, which is his own, hidden and private from his dominating and controlling guardian. An interesting idea I noticed in the story is the portrayal of religion, the ferret which promotes fear and curiosity in Conradin is associated with being a God, whereas the Houdan hen, the only character to which the boy lavished an affection that had scarcely another outlet is associated with being an Anabaptist (a Christian group who believe in belief baptism, or the re-baptising of adult believers). This is interesting because Conradin associates Mrs. De Ropp with respectability as well as normal Christianity (as it says The Woman indulged in religion) and so seeks anything but. This could be involving ideas of nature versus nurture, as Mrs. De Ropps loveless, cold and domineering treatment of her cousin has resulted in his loneliness and his desire to be independent in his beliefs rather than to learn from his guardian as children are expected to. Conradin is ill, and has but a short time to live, this is typical to the Gothic genre as deterioration is important rather than progression. Mrs. De Ropps short-sighted eyes which she uses to peer at the boy with may be used to show her lack of perception at the boys feelings towards her, and toward his own life, I believe this is important as it is repeated twice in the story in quick succession and I therefore believe that we as readers are supposed to pity Conradin. Her lack of knowledge may be used to speak out against societies and leaders rules, which are reflected by Mrs. De Ropps. There may be some gender issues as well, as Mrs. De Ropp is described as being a middle-class feminist who said that making toast gave trouble, she may have issues with Conradins gender as it seems as if Mrs. De Ropp has no children of her own, perhaps she would rather have a healthy girl of her own than an ill son who is not. The locked hutch door is a threshold, these are very important at perfectly concealing and releasing evidence and further knowledge of what is happening in gothic stories. This locked door is the division, which keeps Conradin away from what he so fears, as well as keeping Mrs. De Ropp away from the secret he so loves (Shredni Vashtar). The ferret parallels Conradin himself, as he is metaphorically imprisoned by his guardian and his illness, unable to reach his full potential in life, just as the captured and literally imprisoned Shredni Vashtar is. Typical adjectives are scattered in this story to create a better sense of atmosphere, such as cold, darkness and dusk. Shredni Vashtar is, for Conradin, the embodiment of his own suppressed power and anger, his thoughts were red thoughts and his teeth were white. Our reactions to the killing of Mrs. De Ropp are strange, as we cannot help but feel slightly victorious if not a little pleased. It is ironic that in the end Mrs. De Ropp transforms from the capturer to the one that frees them both from captivity. Conradin is a dark character as we see him doing to Shredni Vashtar, what he so hates about his own life, control, obsession and captivation. There are few characters with no dark aspects to them in this story, and it is hard to know which one to support. This is a clever technique as it replicates the confusion felt by Gothic characters in most stories. I believe that the escape of Shredni Vashtar is a possible representation of Conradins own future, as the two parralel one another, and Shredni Vashtar is the doppelganger or dark double of Conradin. The doctor who analysed Conradin with an early death is said to be effete a term regarding a person who seeks money (which he surely would receive for the purchase of Conradins medicine) and lacks a sense of responsibility I can not help but be left with the feeling that the short-sighted Mrs. De Ropp and her doctor may be wrong about Conradin. Mrs. De Ropp refuses to accept his health as this way she could exert more power over him, and the doctor is simply greedy for money. Conradin is freed with Shredni Vashtar, and I believe he is freed to of his metaphorical illness posed by enlightenment figures. This brings in another important Gothic trope, which is the mocking of the enlightenment.