Frankenstein and "Gothic Horror"

Mary Shelly's "Frankenstein" is a Hallmark of Gothic Horror, and a lot of the elements within this novel have lived on as inspiration for the Genre to this very day. One of the things I have always come to adore in this genre is the settings and the characters themselves. Gothic environments are usually enchanted with decay, vast manors on high hilltops or deep within forests. The attire usually worn is of course dark, but is layered with such lovely and intricate details. Which this choice in turn usually makes the hero/heroine stand out with lighter clothing choices.

In the novel Frankenstein the setting is a far off castle that has seen better days. Since our characters in the story thrive in this main environment it weighs the entire text down with a very saturated and dreary sensation. You as the reader feel alone, depressed, and this atmosphere is where a monster is produced. The description of the environment is identical to that of the monster.

A recent film that embellishes this identical sensation is another Guillermo del Toro film "Crimson Peak". The main heroine Edith falls in love with a charming yet brooding Thomas, and they move into his family's manor together after her father was murdered. The manor is literally sinking in dark red mud, and the estate is massive to the point Edith is constantly wandering and lost at night. As she continues to remain she eventually becomes mad and frightened by the ghosts that plague the halls of Thomas' home.