creating and suspense in gothic novel tension

Poetics of «Gothic novels» Radcliffe is significantly different from its predecessor X. Walpole, and her younger contemporary M. G. Lewis, with typical heap of terrible, supernatural, painful features. The writer used more subtle methods. The most distinctive feature of her creative manner is an effect of creating tensions, expectations, anticipations about something terrible. She was remarked by Walter Scott as anyone could «put flesh imperceptible that we are frightened». Mood of the novels by Radcliffe determines the poetic atmosphere of mystery, privacy and acute sensitivity.
In the Italian or Confessional of the Black Penitents (1797) we can find a lot of samples of the suspense, such as:
“After visiting the tomb, and other attractions, travelers through the dark side of the nave had started toward the door, when suddenly noticed that the mysterious stranger, with whom they met in the portico, rushed to one of ispovedanie located on the left.”

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The conclusion:
So in this the novel does not seek to force the reader to think, deep in the human feelings, not arouses passions scenes, full of tragedy, not giving food curiosity vivid description of events and mores of more light, not trying skilled humor to cause laughter. In other words, this novel does not resort, in order to influence the reader, nor to Comedy, nor to the tragedy and yet be determined and powerful attracts the interest with another tool: it excites (say shortly) a sense of fear, drawing valid danger or referring to superstitions. Therefore, such books strong image of external events, while their characters, like pieces on many landscape paintings, entirely submitted to the place of action and are only those features that allow them to successfully meet the main objects of the artist - the rocks and the trees.
The characters (and here also there is a link between romance and romantic narrative) have just typical, but not individual traits. Grim tyrant count, you old hag housekeeper - the Keeper of many family tales, talkative maid, frivolous fellow servant, one or two of the scoundrel, performers all blacks Affairs, the heroine is the embodiment of all perfections, and sacrifice all sorts of quirks rock - that's Arsenal novelist, as well as the author of romances; if these actors are properly dressed and Express in language that suits their circumstances and properties, it can be expected that readers or listeners will laugh about comic dialogue or shed tears over tragic.
The huge role of the «Gothic» entourage in creating this atmosphere «sublime» sweet, reverent horror, stunning imagination: the majestic mountain peaks, impregnable castles, gloomy forest thicket, clinging to the rock monastery, the ruined Abbey with a huge empty halls and labyrinths of caves, which seem to have no end. Silence, darkness, desolation... You could even say that the invisible magnetic center novel become not twists of the plot, and the bleakness of the castle Adolfo («Rudolfskai secrets»), or the Abbey of Saint-Clair with the surrounding Fonttwister forest («the novel in the forest»), or the Carmelite monastery (the«Italian»).
The images of the pitch in the first two cases made in the name of novels. They reign over perception of readers, and the consciousness of the characters. Such deformation of the personality on the second plan «scenic surroundings» - a characteristic of pre-aesthetics. The Central importance of the person acquires only from the actual romantics.
More clearly manifested the gift of Mrs. Radcliffe in „Sicilian novel, which was published in 1790, and, as we remember ourselves (and we then absorbed novels extremely greedy), has attracted considerable attention of reading audience. In this book I found a way imagination is the main characteristic feature of the author. The reader carries rapid, brilliant series of adventures, with spectacular car chases, during which the fate of the characters hangs in the balance, stimulates action surroundings reminiscent of a magnificent Oriental tale.
But still in the novel is notable deficiencies, natural inexperienced author. Scene linked artfully enough, casually described to characters not given the individual traits; the plot is based on the normal template, passionate lovers, tyrants-parents, homebrew rascals and wardens and others similar to them, with insignificant differences in appearance and family customs and crying, and was raging on the pages of novels already for a quarter of a century before Mrs. Radcliffe. However Sicilian „novel“ attracted many readers, as far exceeded normal printed materials, which were popular among readers „Lenholl-press“, - products of the poor, old and boring.
Mrs. Radcliffe deserves unconditional praise for what it is first, thanks naturalness descriptions and expressiveness of the story, made in literary prose beauty and fantasy, which met earlier exclusively in poetry. Fielding, Richardson, Smollett, even Walpole, though, and wrote on a topic, exciting, were writers. And Mrs. Radcliffe landed the title of the first poetess novel genre (not counting the indispensable accessories verses genuine rhythm).
„Forest Roman“, which appeared in 1791, immediately approved a leading place of the writer in favorites by her literary direction are the advantages it has proved and the subsequent works. In the new novel Mrs. Radcliffe had restrained their imagination and has subordinated its requirements orderly narrative. The writer has taken a lot more skill than before, in the description of the characters, although they conceived, perhaps, not very original; correspondingly increased and success.
Especially talented outlined - interest novel is caused mainly by the instability of his character; in general can be described as rather weak and vicious person than a villain, but he is constantly close to becoming an instrument of violence, which in the soul does not approve.
However, although Mrs. Radcliffe, undoubtedly, much more easily than before, began to think and to finalize their characters, and so proved his superiority over most novelists, still not this side of her skill has brought to it popularity. Interesting, even charmed the audience with amazing built intrigue; the author managed to convince the reader anxious sense of mystery and horror, to awaken sharp curiosity accompanying chapter by chapter, episode by episode.
Interest everyone experiences: from the scientist-the recluse to medium-income families gathered in the evening around the candle to deep in the realm of fantasy, to rest from the pressures of everyday life. The story became more diverse and alive, and even more amazed by descriptions of ruins and forests that surround them; they are so different is pleasant and relaxing, the dark, creepy pictures can bring to life only those in the nature has bestowed the eye of the painter and the spirit of the poet.
In 1793 Mrs. Radcliffe visited on the Rhine, not daring to insist on being right, we still incline to the opinion that Rudolfskai secrets“ were written, or, at least, fixed after this trip; dilapidated castles German knights, rogues, located on the wild romantic banks of the famous river, inspire, probably her imagination and added brightness of its colours (compared with the „Forest novel“). The surroundings of lakes Westmoreland that Mrs. Radcliffe was visited by approximately at the same time, were also expected to provide a powerful incentive for her fantasy: the wild and beautiful places, nature embodied the very beauty, who loved to paint Mrs. Radcliffe. His impressions from these countries it gave the audience in 1794; its superbly written the paper was entitled „Journey to Holland and so on.
Of course, the audience much awaited from the writings of Mrs. Radcliffe; for „Rudolfskai secrets“ booksellers found it possible to offer her a huge sum of 500 pounds. Often it happens that a new attempt to win favor with readers former reputation is the author worst enemy. Everywhere there are high expectations; critical spirit, before thanks to a pleasant surprise, losing first place-approval now, ispanas vigilant, ready to fall on the writer for any fault. However, the popularity of Mrs. Radcliffe withstood the test and after „Wolfskin secrets“ has not diminished; on the contrary, has increased. The very title of the novel fascinated, and the public, with a keen interest rushed to the book, in the end, there was no satiety. In large families volume all the time passed from hands in hands - sometimes they even tore it apart; complaints from people who were prevented from reading the book was a tribute to the author's talent.
But in the dwelling of a lonely cripples or forgotten all adherent of celibacy sochiniteley waited otherwise - and higher - recognition: under the authority of her mighty spells bewitched the reader to forget about his departure, illness, human indifference and secret sorrows. Perhaps we would not be mistaken if we compare such a reading of opium: the constant, habitual use it destructive, but very beneficial in moments of pain or apathy, when the head is heavy, and sick at heart. If those who scolds indiscriminately all such works, weighed as genuine pleasure they give to the reader, and more than all, how many soften the frustration, as comfort in the misfortunes, the reasons philanthropy would have tempered his smug critical fervor or religious intolerance. Many people are too restless to get pleasure from perfectly depicted, but heavily clouded games passions in Richardson, other dimwitted unavailable jokes Lesage, sullen natures alien to the natural and the liveliness of Fielding-and yet, for all their hard to tear from the «Forest of the novel» or «Wolfskin secrets». The reason is that curiosity, hidden love for the mysterious, and the beginnings of superstition nest in many minds and common among ordinary people much more than the original taste to the comic or the true sense of the tragic. The unknown author of the «Ways of the literature», help who boasts that he is against the usual horror stories.
In our opinion all of highly skilled descriptions belong to Mrs. Radcliffe, excite ultimately the same genus - and even less strong - interest, and feelings of ordinary rural legends about ghosts. However, it is critical opinion is grounded not better than the previous one. Yes, to have the feeling of tension and fear, typical of her novels, you simply touch the appropriate springs, which, however, when reusing quickly wear out and lose power. Soon the readers, like Macbeth, weary of all the horrors and become indifferent to the silly and contrived love suffering in the background cardboard moon.
In this kind of literature there is no taste or style or genre - are only some of the attributes of love, fear and death, but there's no love, death, or fear. To read such works extremely difficult, because not very well written the novel, it is a banal story, there is little to no action, it does not capture the imagination and looks more like a parody of suspense. Perhaps this is only due to the fact that the readers of the 21st century, it is extremely difficult to perceive the first literary works of the writer of the 18th century, especially when the suspense genre was only at the very beginning of its development.

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