Gothic Literature of Ann Radcliffe and Stephen King A Psychoanalytic Study

Abstract

The present thesis explores the select novels of Ann Radcliffe and Stephen King from the psychoanalytical perspective. It explores the themes of psychoanalytic theory including anxiety, trauma, fantasies, dreams or nightmares, pre-oedipal psychological experiences, sexual identity, uncanny and unconscious desires. It also attempts to explore Gothic literature with the highlights of psychoanalytical literary analysis pertaining to horror literature. It focuses on the psychological process of the protagonists by employing Freud s psychoanalysis approach. The major concern of this study is how anxiety is reflected in the major character s personality. Thus, both the novelists Ann Radcliffe and Stephen King describe human psychological problem which appears in their main protagonists. Therefore, with the theories of characterization, conflict, and redemption as well as psychological and psychoanalytical theories, both the writers try to analyse the process of characters search for recognition to gain their honor but they are entangled between desire and lack throughout their life. newline