The Mysteries of Udolpho & Northanger Abbey Peak Gothic Aesthetic & the Parody of a Petty Woman

The Mysteries of Udolpho Summary Character Guide Emily St. Aubert-Protagonist Valancourt-love interest Madame Cheron-Emily’s guardian, marries Signor Montoni Signor Montoni-Antagonist, very evil DuPont-Was kept in dungeon, helps Emily and two servants escape The Villeforts-Own the chateau from the beginning of the story Ludovico-servant who stays in the haunted chamber Sister Agnes-Secretly Signora Laurentini and Emily’s aunt

What Makes the Story Gothic? Setting Fascination with the Past The story begins in 1584 Many old, crumbling locations including The Castle of Udolpho Several old French chateaux (large manors for the nobility)

What Makes the Story Gothic? Supernatural Element & Suspense Voices in the Castle of Udolpho Haunted chamber in the estate of the Marquis de Villerois Supernatural element partially explained with a rational explanation What’s behind the black veil?

Northanger Abbey Summary Character Guide Catherine Moreland-Protagonist Henry Tilney-Love interest Isabella Thorpe-Catherine’s fake friend, gets engaged to James, gets involved with Captain Tilney James Moreland-Catherine’s brother John Thorpe-Isabella’s brother General Tilney-Henry’s father Captain Tilney-Henry’s older brother, gets involved with Isabella Eleanor Tilney-Henry’s Sister

How Does Austen Parody the Gothic Style? Pure-hearted Heroines & Naïve Teenagers Catherine imagines herself as Emily Juxtaposition of the dramatic vs the mundane Can read Gothic novels but cannot read people Pokes fun at the Gothic audience as a whole

Why Parody the Gothic Style? Austen defends her own writing style Melodrama vs. real threats Advocates controlled emotion Speaks to Austen as a person as much as Austen as an author