Index of Fear

The monsters and villains in Gothic novels live outwith social norms, conveying warnings to readers about the dangers of deviating from the established order.  Tales of the “othered” – those who live outside of societies’ accepted norms - and their deviant or dangerous acts can be used as an index of what scared society most at a given time.

But these fears could be subversive. The stories opened the possibility of discussing transgressive topics. Readers can sympathise with the monstrous “othered” characters, even if they were intended to signify markers of deviance and danger. Critics saw the Gothic novel as a moral threat, in part because these stories and characters excited and enticed audiences.