Horror Literature

Abstract

Howard Philips Lovecraft is considered one of the most influential horror writers in literature, and since studies focusing on the author are already common, it might be interesting to take a literary approach. The aim of this dissertation is to point out how different archetypes of both traditional and North American Gothic literature influenced and/or are represented in his novel The Case of Charles Dexter Ward(1941). In order to give some context, we will first delve into the author's life and the nature of his work. Then, we will provide a thorough and extensive typology of the most common tropes in both of the aforementioned Gothic traditions, quoting several examples from different well-known Gothic works. With said archetypes clarified, we will scrutinize in detail their presence on this specific novel as they appear in the plot, which will be divided in three narrative arcs, as well as how these Gothic tropes are portrayed and what their role is in the development of the story. Lastly, a conclusion will be presented underlining the major relevance of Gothic archetypes in The Case of Charles Dexter Ward.