Publication Date
Summer 7-31-2024
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Arts in English (MA)
Department
English
Committee Chair
Debbie R. Lelekis
Committee Member
Sharity Nelson
Committee Member
Paul J. Niemeyer
Committee Member
Deborah L. Blackwell
Abstract
This paper examines the significant contributions of Edgar Allan Poe and Nathaniel Hawthorne to the development of American Gothic literature. Poe’s stories “The Tell-Tale Heart” and “The Black Cat” are renowned for their psychological elements and exploration of the human psyche, while Hawthorne’s “The Birthmark” questions the nature of evil as a universal human experience. By examining the ways in which these authors engage with themes of mental disorders, symbolism, and science versus nature, this thesis explores how such work by Poe and Hawthorne play in shaping the readers' understanding of the darker elements of American Gothic literature and its continued relevance to contemporary debates about American culture and society.
Recommended Citation
Serna, Alejandra, "EXPLORING THE DARK AND GOTHIC: AN ANALYSIS OF EDGAR ALLAN POE AND NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE’S GOTHIC ELEMENTS IN AMERICAN LITERATURE" (2024). Theses and Dissertations. 206.
https://rio.tamiu.edu/etds/206
