The setting is a highly influential aspect of the Gothic novel. The story usually takes place in the claustrophobia and darkness of an old castle or abbey. It creates a place of fear and dread and portrays this world as a deterioration of its former self. The desperate, dark and ruined scenery implies that at one time there was a thriving world. It is not just the dwelling itself that creates this dismal setting, but the surroundings too. You will find that the castle may be surrounded by mysterious woods or haunting caves to add to the haunting flavor of the novel.
The Gothic novel creates a fearful and strangely threatening atmosphere, producing a feeling of terror in the reader through the unknown. A lot of the time the plot develops around some kind of mystery, such as a seemingly unexplainable disappearance, a strange and unexpected death, or some other inexplicable event. Mystery is something that develops from a gap in our understanding and it is central to the Gothic novel and its plot. A distinctive Gothic atmosphere is created by this element.
Gothic characters usually consist of a tyrannical villain and a protagonist. The villain is usually portrayed as a powerful male figure, such as the king, lord of the manor or father who commands and humiliates the protagonist, who is often female. The protagonist, a lonely, isolated and often oppressed figure in the novel, is left alone without a protector.
The narration in a Gothic novel is filled with sentiment, sometimes overly so. The characters are driven or overcome by extreme levels of emotion, especially sadness and terror. Characters are often plagued by a constant state of suffering throughout the story from anxiety and an unending sense of hovering doom. Crying and screaming are both frequent in occurrence.