The Southern Gothic Genre Of Literature - 1528 Words

The southern gothic genre of literature can be described as â€Å"plots involving violence or hidden trauma, eccentric and often psychologically troubled characters, and an atmosphere of repression and decay† (Oxford Dictionary). This dark, depressing theme found in literature is one that highlights the harsh realities that characters face in their own geographic area. It is vital for southern gothic stories to incorporate the theme of some type of external decay. In the texts Salvage the Bones and Swamplandia! we can observe the struggles and consequences of simply where the characters find their lives to be located at. Challenges are introduced to the lives of the characters in Swamplandia! when they realize the truth of what they are up†¦show more content†¦This idea of nothingness where the Bigtree children felt as if they weren’t being productive with their lives (enough to leave Swamplandia) may be due to their surroundings. With the death of their star a lligator wrestler mother, the theme park started to decline. The amount of visitors to the island quickly diminished and Swamplandia eventually saw a point of nobody stopping to see the alligators. It also becomes apparent that the father of the Bigtree family had spent more money than he had and the park had actually entered into great debt. In addition to this, the theme park doesn’t boom like it used to, so the Bigtree family could not make a profit. Soon, with the accumulation of debt and no new visitors in line for a ticket, it was inevitable that the Bigtree family would become poor. Kiwi responds to his father’s incompetence to guide the family into financially stable lives by leaving the island to work on the mainland. In his note to his father he states, â€Å"I am relocating to Loomis County to raise funds to preclude what will otherwise result in a fiscal cataclysm for our family and certain penury and insolvency† (Russell 73). The limitations set on financial resources (due to the park decline) is a central part of the decay in this text. The father actually tries to make up for the money loss by lying to his children, working at a casino, and staying at a motel for what he claims to be for business. TheShow MoreRelatedThe Secret Life of Bees and How It Is Classified Under the Southern Gothic Genre792 Words   |  4 PagesThe Secret Life of Bees within the Southern Gothic Genre Most southern gothic literature deals with the disturbed and flawed characters; one of the most famous writers of this genre is Edgar Allan Poe. The southern gothic genre is characterized by grotesque, gruesome, or unbelievable incidents. The southern gothic genre is portrayed in many ways. Lily, the main character, goes through many difficult life experiences and learns many tough lessons. This book does not have a happy ending like a fairyRead MoreGothic Literature : The Southern Gothic Fiction1476 Words   |  6 Pagescharacters combined with southern charm and the ever-present gender divide to tell stories that represent a writing style known as southern gothic literature. â€Å"Southern Gothic is a subgenre of Gothic fiction unique to American literature that takes place exclusively in the American South. Elements of a Gothic treatment of the South were apparent in the 19th century, ante- and post-bellum, in the grotesques of Henry Clay Lewis and the de-idealized visions of M ark Twain.[3] The genre came together, howeverRead MoreSouthern Gothic Literature And Deranged Characters Essay1357 Words   |  6 PagesSouthern Gothic Literature and Deranged Characters â€Å"Southern Gothic Literature is a genre that focuses on grotesque themes that involve troubled and deranged main characters, while sometimes including elements found from the supernatural† (study.com P1). The following short stories had authors that played a tremendous role in the southern gothic literature genre, and inspired many authors to follow their style. From necrophilia to serial killers, southern gothic literature is a genre that is to beRead MoreGone Girl By Gillian Flynn Essay1491 Words   |  6 PagesSouthern Gothic literature often incorporates its elements separately without any direct relationship between two of them, namely the grotesque and violence. While many of the Southern Gothic culture and literature explores these elements separately, there are cases where they simultaneously occur. Gillian Flynn is able to effectively incorporate both aspects individually before performing a crossover of the two in her novel Gone Girl. With the use of other aspec ts (economic downfall and mental instability)Read MoreCharacteristics Of Southern Gothic Literature1694 Words   |  7 PagesJordan Cole English 1102 Professor Myszkowski 1 December 2017 Southern Gothic Literature Throughout the course of history, literature has gone through considerable changes. Dating back to its humble beginnings in folklore, fables, and storytelling all the way up to the scientific books and dramatic novels of today. Literature is arguably the centerpiece of all mankind. It is useful for record keeping, education, and bringing cultures and societies together. It has allowed us to expand our mindsRead MoreAnalysis Of The Poem Southern Gothic 1566 Words   |  7 PagesMyszkowski English 1102 17 April 2016 Southern Gothic Literature In the 19th century, the Southern Gothic genre quickly became popular after Edgar Allen Poe poems in the 18th century. Most writings were formed around the Civil War era, which plays an enormous part in the tone and setting in Southern Gothic writing styles. (O’Connell 63) Southern Gothic writing elements consist of â€Å"horror, romance and psychological and domestic dramas† (63). The setting of Southern Gothic was always dingy and dark whichRead MoreThe Genre of Southern Gothic in A Good Man Is Hard to Find Essay1347 Words   |  6 Pagestouch of Southern whimsy-you’ve cooked up a collection of American literature absolutely unique in time, place, and sentiment, Southern gothic.† Southern gothic comes from the genre of gothic fiction, and has some type of supernatural or unusual events in it. It is characterized as having a grotesque quality yet still having enough good in it to keep readers interested. The short story, â€Å"A Good Man is Hard to F ind† by Mary Flannery O’Connor, is often considered a perfect example of Southern gothicRead MoreMary Shelley and Flannery OConnor: Gothic Isolationists1724 Words   |  7 Pages Gothic fiction is a genre of literature that combines fiction, horror and Romanticism with a particular focus on the mysterious and supernatural aspects. Gothic fiction originated in England during the latter half of the 18th century. This distinctive genre of literature soon developed into a 19th century phenomenon. The success of this dominant genre in England is frequently attributed to Mary Shelley. Despite its success during this time period, gothic fiction ceased to be a dominant genre byRead MoreLiterary Essay On Stown1174 Words   |  5 Pages Stown Essay Stown is a classic piece of Southern Gothic Literature, by showing elements of violence, social issues, and outsiders. I would like to make statement for people to understand and follow so we can all better our lives. Our world has changed a lot through the years, like from Civil War and the South’s values and morals, but some places in the world change slower than others. So does this mean that some places in America today still have these same values and morals as back then? The mainRead MoreWilliam Faulkner s A Of The Sky And A Rose For Emily1540 Words   |  7 PagesLiterature, a Contribution to Society Reading, in general has affected all societies in all time periods, and reading is more than just an everyday task. These two authors affected society in their time, with their reappraising stories: A Horseman In The Sky and A Rose For Emily. However, William Faulkner (author of A Rose For Emily) and Ambrose Bierce (author of A Horseman In The Sky) have different views and affects on society by when the particular story was published, the use of figurative language