Literary Virtuosity of the
Nineteenth-Century
The term “Gothic” summons a multitude of images and generalized ideas. Gloom, “horror [and] deterioration” along with shrouded black figures comes to mind at its mention. From a historical perspective, “Gothic” is a descriptor of architecture such as cathedrals; a medieval time period or a Germanic tribe called the Goths (De Vore 1). Recently, it refers to a popular subculture with roots in the 1980s and that still thrive today. If the Gothic concept has influenced all of the a fore mentioned, then it must have influenced literature at some point in time and it certainly has. Stephen King, a well-known modern author known for his brilliant manipulations of the Gothic genre, has written hundreds of shorts stories, contributing to a legacy left by previous authors (Stephen 1). As a popular genre during the nineteenth century, eminent authors such as, Oscar Wilde, Robert Louis Stevenson, and Thomas Hardy each explored the topic, offering their interpretations of the Gothic genre.
Known for his wit and flamboyance, the Irish poet and dramatist, Oscar Wilde, produced some of the most exceptional comedies and compositions in English literature: ‘An Ideal Husband,’ ‘The Importance of Being Earnest,’ and his only book entitled The Picture of Dorian Gray (Fingal 1). Wilde’s literary genius was most likely spawned by his parents, who were both authors themselves and encouraged him to pursue a writing career. Presented with the opportunity of a fellowship at a university, Wilde rejected the idea, preferring that his talent be publicly recognized so that he could be the first writer to overcome the barrier between “high culture” and “popular culture” (Traynor 1). In his prime, Wilde was accused of having a homosexual relationship with Lord Alfred Douglas, found guilty and forced to serve two years of hard labor. After his release, he strayed from writing, living the short remainder of his life in disgrace and poverty (Wilde 1).
On the brink of death the majority of his life, Robert Louis Stevenson’s remarkable life story significantly impacted and guided his career as a writer. As a child, he spent most of his time in his bed battling lung complications and other illnesses, which prevented him enjoying common childhood pleasures. At the age of 6, Stevenson began creating stories using his overactive imagination, which in 20 years produced fantastic stories such as Treasure Island, The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, and Kidnapped (Louis 1). Stevenson was unique from other authors of his time; unlike them, whose writing reflected Victorian life, he wrote for “the love of a story for its own sake, the delight in adventure, and the spirit of eternal youth” (Louis 2).
Similar to Robert Louis Stevenson, Thomas Hardy set himself apart from his peers. Ironically, Hardy spent his entire life criticizing and scorning Victorian England’s norms and beliefs through his work only to become its most renowned writer. His greatest attack on England’s conventional views was with his novel “Jude the Obscure,” which questions England’s beliefs on marriage, sex, and class and sparked a huge controversy in the media (Kirsch 1). Hardy criticizes Victorian values in many of his books, often by incorporating doomed characters as a means of portraying the city’s abuse of the countryside, which has earned him the title of a pessimist. Examples of this method are seen in his works such as The Mayor of Casterbridge, and Tess of the D’Urbervilles. By the time of his death, Thomas Hardy had accumulated numerous honors regarding his writing achievements (Teisch 1).
Collectively, Oscar Wilde, Robert Louis Stevenson, and Thomas Hardy have compiled several books that remain popular today and will likely stay popular for generations more. They have established foundations for authors of this generation as well as the future, demanding expectations of excellence. Even through immobilizing struggles, each of these authors relied on pure ambition to continue their careers. Compounded with ambition, their desire to distinguish themselves from their counterparts ultimately heightened the legacies established by these men.
Known for his wit and flamboyance, the Irish poet and dramatist, Oscar Wilde, produced some of the most exceptional comedies and compositions in English literature: ‘An Ideal Husband,’ ‘The Importance of Being Earnest,’ and his only book entitled The Picture of Dorian Gray (Fingal 1). Wilde’s literary genius was most likely spawned by his parents, who were both authors themselves and encouraged him to pursue a writing career. Presented with the opportunity of a fellowship at a university, Wilde rejected the idea, preferring that his talent be publicly recognized so that he could be the first writer to overcome the barrier between “high culture” and “popular culture” (Traynor 1). In his prime, Wilde was accused of having a homosexual relationship with Lord Alfred Douglas, found guilty and forced to serve two years of hard labor. After his release, he strayed from writing, living the short remainder of his life in disgrace and poverty (Wilde 1).
On the brink of death the majority of his life, Robert Louis Stevenson’s remarkable life story significantly impacted and guided his career as a writer. As a child, he spent most of his time in his bed battling lung complications and other illnesses, which prevented him enjoying common childhood pleasures. At the age of 6, Stevenson began creating stories using his overactive imagination, which in 20 years produced fantastic stories such as Treasure Island, The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, and Kidnapped (Louis 1). Stevenson was unique from other authors of his time; unlike them, whose writing reflected Victorian life, he wrote for “the love of a story for its own sake, the delight in adventure, and the spirit of eternal youth” (Louis 2).
Similar to Robert Louis Stevenson, Thomas Hardy set himself apart from his peers. Ironically, Hardy spent his entire life criticizing and scorning Victorian England’s norms and beliefs through his work only to become its most renowned writer. His greatest attack on England’s conventional views was with his novel “Jude the Obscure,” which questions England’s beliefs on marriage, sex, and class and sparked a huge controversy in the media (Kirsch 1). Hardy criticizes Victorian values in many of his books, often by incorporating doomed characters as a means of portraying the city’s abuse of the countryside, which has earned him the title of a pessimist. Examples of this method are seen in his works such as The Mayor of Casterbridge, and Tess of the D’Urbervilles. By the time of his death, Thomas Hardy had accumulated numerous honors regarding his writing achievements (Teisch 1).
Collectively, Oscar Wilde, Robert Louis Stevenson, and Thomas Hardy have compiled several books that remain popular today and will likely stay popular for generations more. They have established foundations for authors of this generation as well as the future, demanding expectations of excellence. Even through immobilizing struggles, each of these authors relied on pure ambition to continue their careers. Compounded with ambition, their desire to distinguish themselves from their counterparts ultimately heightened the legacies established by these men.
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