Haunted Hearts: The Intersection of Love and Horror

With the premiere of ‘Nosferatu’, one of this year’s most anticipated films, I would like to discuss the origins of Gothic Romanticism. The term 'Gothic' comes from the word 'goths', one of the German tribes that invaded Europe during the fifth and sixth centuries and took part in the conquering of the Roman empire. Subsequent generations considered them to be barbaric and uncivilized, and thus, during the Renaissance, critics referred to the architecture of the 13th century as Gothic. However, with time, the term Gothic evolved to be used in many different fields: as a literary term, as a historical term, as an artistic term, as well as as an architectural term.

In the literary context, Gothic is most usually applied to a group of novels written between the 1760s and 1820s as a genre. Gothic fiction was first established with the publication of Horace Walpole's The Castle of Otranto in 1764. Characterized by dark foreboding and outlandish, sometimes grotesque characters and events, gothic fiction has flourished into many different subgenres in the centuries since its creation. Gothic fiction emerged late in the 18th century as part of the Romantic Movement in the arts. Marked a departure from the classical order towards imagination and feeling. This movement was a reaction against the 'age of reason', or the Enlightenment.

Gothic romance began to develop as its legitimate subgenre with Ann Redcliffe's, the first lady of Gothic fiction, A Sicilian Romance in 1790. Her novels featured female protagonists, battling through terrifying ordeals while struggling to be with their true loves.

In Gothic fiction, the most important theme is that of good versus evil. Color plays a large role in determining which side is good and which is evil. Typically, light colors represent virtue and purity, while dark ones represent immortality. Many of the defining elements of Gothic literature parallel those of the Middle Ages, incorporating similar themes and settings. Readers’ fascination with terror paved the way for a thrilling new ideal that helped popularize the movement. The setting is mysterious and evokes suspense. The dark atmosphere of Gothic fiction includes omens, supernatural elements, intense emotions, and a damsel in distress.

The Romantic poet John Keats also used gothic elements in his poetry as a product of imagination. In his iconic romantic narrative poem The Eve of Saint Agnes, which is about a medieval legend that tells how young virgins who perform certain rituals on the night of 20th January will envision their future husbands in their dreams, he combines the superstitious beliefs of the religious atmosphere of the day with Romeo and Juliet. However, unlike the other romances with happy endings here, love is a heavenly experience, and lovers head for an unknown end.

The tragic Gothic romance classic "Nosferatu" was first released in silent form in 1922 by filmmaker F.W. Murnau. The way vampires are portrayed in popular culture has been greatly impacted by this unauthorized adaptation of Bram Stoker's "Dracula." In 2024, director Robert Eggers reintroduced "Nosferatu," delving deeper into its Gothic origins. With its focus on a haunted young woman and the terrifying vampire who becomes fascinated with her, this adaptation explores themes of obsession and infatuation, resulting in unspeakable horror. The cast of the movie is also noteworthy and includes Nicholas Hoult as Thomas Hutter, Lily-Rose Depp as Ellen, and Bill Skarsgård as Count Orlok.

For those interested in this Gothic tale, here is the official trailer: