Studying human biology

• Charles Darwin: 'The origin of species'[1859]


  Developed concept that humans share common ancestors with animals creates a familiar yet alien sense of the self
• Darwin's work

  • Introduced vast unknowns about life and evolution, mirroring the Gothic fascination with mysterious, unseen forces
  • Description of nature as a battleground for survival evokes the sublime terror of nature's power and indifference, a common Gothic element
• The societal upheaval caused by Darwin's work

  Reflects the Gothic preoccupation with societal decay and instability
• The conflict between Darwin's scientific ideas and religious beliefs

  Mirrors the Gothic tension between reason and superstition
• Species differentiation

  • Introduces the concept of the Other, a common Gothic motif involving fear of the alien and unknown
• The vastness of geologic time and the complexity of evolution

  • Evoke the Gothic aesthetic of the sublime, blending awe and terror
• Lomboso's theory of atavism [1876]


  Criminals as a distinct biological category reflects the Gothic fear of the Other
• Physical and behavioural anomalies in criminals

  • Evoke the Gothic sense of the uncanny
• Lombroso's idea of reversion to animalistic traits

  Parallels Gothic themes of werewolves and other bestial transformations
• Lombroso linked criminality to mental disorders

  Reflecting the Gothic theme of madness and moral corruption
• Sigmund Freud begins developing psychoanalysis theories including dreams [1891]


  Freud's concept of the unconscious mind mirrors the Gothic fascination with hidden depths and unseen forces
• Repressed memories and desires

  Reflect the Gothic theme of buried secrets that eventually resurface
• Freud's interpretation of dreams

  Parallels the Gothic use of nightmares and prophetic visions to reveal hidden truths
• The conflict between the id, ego, and superego

  Mirrors the Gothic exploration of the duality and inner conflict within individuals
• The Oedipus complex

  Touches on taboo and forbidden desires, common themes in Gothic literature
• The phenomenon of transference

  Echoes the Gothic theme of being haunted by past relationships
• The pursuit of pleasure and avoidance of pain

  Mirrors the Gothic exploration of hedonism leading to moral and physical decay
• Nordau's theory of degeneration [1892]


  Nordau saw modern culture as declining into decadence, mirroring the Gothic fascination with societal and moral decay
• The widespread anxiety about degeneration

  Reflects the Gothic trope of societal panic and fear of uncontrollable masses
• His focus on nervous disorders in degenerate individuals

  Parallels the Gothic portrayal of hysteria and mental fragility
• His pessimism about the future

  Reflects the Gothic trope of apocalyptic visions and the end of civilization
• He associated degeneration with sexual deviance

  Paralleling the Gothic exploration of taboo and forbidden desires
• His views on the influence of women in modern culture

  Echo the Gothic trope of the femme fatale, who leads men to their doom
• His overall pessimistic outlook on the future of society mirrors the pervasive gloom and doom often found in Gothic literature