It [the castle] is old, and has many memories. Transgression and Cultural, Literary Idiosyncrasy of Space in Gothic Tradition

Abstract

From its beginning, Gothic literature was closely connected to architecture much earlier than to literature itself. In fact, space is one of the most outstanding elements –and even characters– of any Gothic production, as it is intended to show throughout these pages. The idiosyncrasy of Gothic is merged not only with the literary tradition and with the cultural background, but it also carries within an undeniable layer of transgression. The presence of space in Gothic productions conforms, thus, an almost character, needing to be analyzed and studied as such. Cellars, castles, basements, caves… all of them refer to a common symbolism: places originally intended for care and protection can become deadly prisons.