Facing her fears: Analyzing monsters in the early Female Gothic

Abstract

This thesis focuses on the representation of the monstrous in Female Gothic literature of the late 18th Century and early 19th Century. The focus of this research is on three novels: The Italian by Ann Radcliffe, Zofloya or the Moor by Charlotte Dacre, and Frankenstein by Mary Shelley with the objective of closely analyzing the ways in which all three novels portray the elements of the monstrous through characters, institutions, and social order. This thesis project analyzes the concept of monsters and monstrosity within the Gothic genre in contrast to societal organization and expectations for women of late 18th and early 19th century society. Furthermore, this project will draw parallels between the elements of the monstrous and female anxieties of the time in which said novels were written.

Esta tesis se enfoca en analizar el concepto de lo que es considerado monstruo o el monstruo humano en la literatura gótica escrita por mujeres a finales del siglo 18 y comienzos del siglo 19. Para dicho análisis tres novelas fueron seleccionadas: El Italiano por Anne Radcliffe, Zofloya por Charlotte Dacre, y Frankenstein por Mary Shelley. El objetivo es analizar la manera en que estas novelas presentan los diferentes elementos de lo que es considerado monstruo a través de personajes, instituciones, y códigos sociales de su tiempo. Además se analiza como concepto del monstruo crea un paralelo con las ansiedades y expectativas que la sociedad imponía sobre las mujeres de dicha época.