A Paper on The Disorderly household as a Gothic ingredient in The Parricide Punished

 

 

Gothic fiction almost entirely proceeds in a formula of impending tragedy and doom.  A mood of frustration overwhelms not only the part of the protagonist, but also the reader, who must anticipate a disaster.  This is foreboded by recurring images usually found within a household to enhance the fear, suspense and terror that will be accomplished in the climax.  The household (besides the likes of blood, a clap of thunder, or skeletons) is a Gothic convention, it is not strange to come upon a creaking door, a sudden bang, crash or shattering noise that is supposed to inspire shock and a heightened sense of horror.  The house (usually worn down or decadent) is an important ingredient and symbol of Gothic fiction.  It is part of the burden that stimulates heavy emotions and it most often than not overwhelms the protagonist perhaps due to its size and structure as large and unmovable (thus, hopelessly uncontrollable).  Indeed, there's a wide disarray of domestic disorder abounded by symbolisms and connotations on the household and the family.

 

One of the most apt gothic fictions that best emphasizes the doomed household is The Parricide Punished, written by an Anonymous author.  This is a story that was written in Medieval Europe which immediately inspires the Castle, a massive towering structure that becomes a symbol of authority and power.  "The Parricide Punished" is told by a guest who observes the marriage of M. de Vildac (in a letter being written to his father).  The guest was to stay inside the Castle until that night he was interrupted by noises only to come from an old man who claims to be Vildac's father.  The old man, apparently imprisoned, is amazed to come upon a resident of the lodge and begins elaborating his woe on his cruel and heartless son.  His son had seen the enormous wealth brought by a father's death and willed that it be done to him.  Thus Vildac imprisons him and declares him dead until 20 years, the guest arrives in the lodge.  The speaker of the story shows a brave front, eager to protect the old man, horrified by what Vildac has done.  The old man has been changed drastically especially of his countenance and attitude on life.  Pessimistic, depressed, the old man can only go back to his prison, warning the speaker of the dangers that lurk if the speaker should intervene.  Thus the speaker departs the castle and leaves his neighbourhood so to avoid Vildac and he ends the letter to his friend.           

 

Immediately, the narrative is given hints of danger and evil through M. de Vildac's "wild and suspicious glare, something which has given me disagreeable sensations for which I could no way account" (1) Further, Vildac does not know how to show joy, instead there only seemed to be a "secret torment."

 

The speaker of the story is made to stay in Vildac's "ancient castle" which is immediately pointed out as being decaying "

Old

Tower

" (1).  The speaker would sleep, only to be wakened by "a heavy kind of noise", a clear ingredient to the gothic narrative.  This immediately suggests the Castle as a venue that contains peril.  The Castle in this regard becomes a prison of horror, especially when further sounds would add to by the "footsteps of some one slowly descending, and dragging chains that clanked upon the stairs" (1).  The presence of chains heightens the danger especially at their ominous clinks and the association of chains as a binding and restricting material.  The material is used in the likes of prison and dungeons (this also contributing to the overall effect of the Castle as a prison).  Finally, it was determined that they come from a "withered old man, half naked, with a bald head, and a white beard" (1) a truly horrendous sight as an old man would express fragility and would suggest the dehumanized treatment. Plus, the very presence of the man evokes the fear that the Castle certainly has dark secrets that it has the capability to put people in such an ill condition.  Thus it heightens the terror the Castle encases.  In this household disorder, it is this old man, Vildac's father, who is challenged.  Vildac has caused disorganization to the family by imprisoning his father and declaring him dead so he can have his patrimony wealth.  The

Ancient

Castle

stands for all such disorder. 

 

The gothic fiction presents man in an evil and corrupted light, as someone who may be enticed to commit evil in the name of self-gratification.  Never mind if the people involved is part of the family.  Man is a suspicious being who is capable of horrible actions to satisfy his own desires and welfare at the expense of the household and the family. 

 

The

Oxford

Book of Gothic Tales. Ed. Chris Baldick.

Oxford

and

New York

:

Oxford

University

Press, 1992.