Gothic characters are all a bit weird, but in a good way– especially the anti-heroes, villains and monsters. Their complex desires and struggles make them strangely relatable. If we could spend time with any gothic character we’d probably hang out with them all, but here are 5 characters we wish we knew IRL.
1. Nightbitch from Nightbitch by Rochel Yoder
In a middle-class American town, a lonely artist/mum (with no name) transforms into ‘Nightbitch’, a female dog that does exactly what she wants. Her life pre Nightbitch is so sad and relatable as a stressed-out, unsupported wife/mother that we can’t help but feel pleased for her when she transforms into a feral creature. Nightbitch is wild, self-serving, and full of impulses- a contrast to what’s expected of a mum. She can teach us to cut loose a bit more and give into our desires.
2. Dorian Gray from The Picture of Dorian Gray
Dorian Gray appreciates beauty and is desperate to stay young and beautiful forever, at whatever cost. He gets his wish and soon spirals into a life of hedonism against the backdrop of Victorian England with its rigid norms. We'd keep him at arm's length, but it would be an interesting night out with Dorian Gray.
3. The monster from Frankenstein
Imagine being created then instantly abandoned. No friends, no family–just people treating you like, well, a monster. We can’t help but feel sorry for Mary Shelley’s poor creature. He’s got some ace qualities, like being a fast learner and he feels most at peace in nature, so he’d be great to go on long walks with. The monster craves intimacy– seems like a good sort generally, except for his unyielding desire to take vengeance on his maker. We think that with a bit of TLC, the monster’s rage would soon subside.
4. Bertha from Jane Eyre
Bertha aka ‘the madwoman in the attic’ is Mr Rochster’s first wife. He keeps her locked up on the third floor of Thornfield Hall– because apparently she’s ‘insane’. Bertha is described as Creole and we hear about how mental illness runs in her family. But we only know what Mr Rochester tells us, so the jury’s out on what actually happened between them. Yes, she burns Mr Rochester’s house down (we are in no way condoning arson), but she’s been taken from her family to a new land abroad. And then her husband makes plans to marry another woman while he keeps her locked up in his attic. We’d love to know her side of the story and suspect we’ll only grow all the more sympathetic towards her when we do (#TeamBertha)…
5. Rebecca from Rebecca
We never meet Rebecca in Daphne Du Maurier’s masterpiece, and yet her presence is so powerful that she practically leaps off the page. Perhaps the best description we get of the former Mrs De Winter is through her loyal servant Mrs Danvers. She tells the new Mrs De Winters about her old mistress, ‘[Rebecca] didn’t care. She only laughed. “I shall live as I please, Danny,” she told me, “and the whole world won’t stop me.”’ Rebecca was apparently beautiful, full of passion for life. Like so many of our other villains/anti-heroes, there’s something to admire about how Rebecca fights for what she wants in the face of social conventions.
Which gothic character would you love to meet IRL? Let us know in the comments!
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