Southern Gothic Literature

Southern Gothic Genre Gothic literature originated in 18th century England Early gothic writers used the genre in part to criticize what they saw as the moral blindness of the medieval era Similarly, Southern Gothic writers deal with their own past in their stories Many of the most notable writers of the 20th century wrote in the Southern Gothic tradition

Characteristics of the Genre General characteristics: Supernatural elements, mental disease, and the grotesque However, in the Southern tradition, one sees less of the supernatural and more focus on disturbed personalities (eg. Abner Snopes) Southern Gothic is known for its damaged and delusional characters. The genre also deals with the plight of those who are ostracized or oppressed in traditional Southern culture—blacks, women, gays.

Examples of the genre To Kill a Mockingbird—a clearly innocent black man is convicted or rape and murdered simply because of his race. A Streetcar Named Desire—reinvents the Southern Belle as a pretentious, mentally unstable woman “A Rose for Emily”—brings the recurrent Gothic theme of unrequited love leading to madness Other notable writers of the genre: Truman Capote, Flannery O’ Connor, Eudora Welty, Carson McCullers.