Reconsidering the relationship between early Gothic literature and the Greek classics: the cases of William Beckford and Matthew G. Lewis

The view that Gothic literature emerged as a reaction against the prominence of the Greek classics, and that, as a result, it bears no trace of their influence, is a commonplace in Gothic studies. This thesis re-examines this view, arguing that the Gothic and the Classical were not in opposition to one another, and that Greek tragic poetry and myth should be counted among the literary sources that inspired early Gothic writers. The discussion is organised in three parts. Part I focuses on evidence which suggests that the Gothic and the Hellenic were closely associated in the minds of several British literati both on a political and aesthetic level. As is shown, the coincidence of the Hellenic with the Gothic revival in the second half of the eighteenth century inspired them not only to trace common ground between the Greek and Gothic traditions, but also to look at Greek tragic poetry and myth through Gothic eyes, bringing to light an unruly, ‘Dionysian’ world that suited their taste. The particulars of this coincidence, which has not thus far been discussed in Gothic studies, as well as evidence which suggests that several early Gothic writers were influenced by Greek tragedy and myth, open up new avenues for research on the thematic and aesthetic heterogeneity of early Gothic literature. Parts II and III set out to explore this new ground and to support the main argument of this thesis by examining the influence of Greek tragic poetry and myth on the works of two early Gothic novelists and, in many ways, shapers of the genre, William Beckford and Matthew Gregory Lewis. Part II focuses on William Beckford’s Vathek and its indebtedness to Euripides’s Bacchae, and Part III on Matthew Gregory Lewis’s The Monk and its indebtedness to Sophocles’s Oedipus Tyrannus. As is discussed, Beckford and Lewis participated actively in both the Gothic and Hellenic revivals, producing highly imaginative works that blended material from the British and Greek literary traditions.

Abaellino, or The bravo of Venice.

For Zschokke's authorship see Joseph Thomas, Universal Pronouncing Dictionary of Biography and Mythology. Early editions of Abaellino in English give M. G. [Matthew Gregory] Lewis as the translator.

The life and correspondence of M. G. Lewis ... with many pieces in prose and verse, never before published.

Ed. by Mrs. Margaret Baron-Wilson.

The Anaconda: An East Indian tale.

First appeared in the author's "Romantic tales," 1808, vol. 2. cf. Summers, The Gothic Quest.

Rivers; or, The East Indian; a comedy in five acts ...

Mode of access: Internet.

Rich and poor. A comic opera;

Originally a comedy, with title "The East Indian."

Tales of wonder; /

The final leaf in v. 2 is a publisher's advertisement (the verso blank).

The monk : a romance /

Mode of access: Internet.

Rugantino : or, The bravo of Venice /

Without the music (by Busby)

Timour the tartar : a grand romantic melo drama. In two acts /

Cast of production at Museum, Providence, 1853, p. 2 in mss.

The bravo of Venice : a romance /

Freely adapted with alterations from Abällino, der grosse Bandit, by Heinrich Zschokke, this translation first published 1805 [i.e. Dec. 1804], cf. Summers, M. Gothic bib., p. 252 and NCBEL III, 743.

Raymond and Agnes; or, The bleeding nun.

Mode of access: Internet.

Romantic tales,

v. 1. Mistrust; or, Blanche and Osbright.--The admiral Guarino.--King Rodrigo's fall.--Bertrand and Mary-Belle.--The lord of Falkenstein.--Sir Guy, the seeker.--v. 2. The anaconda.--The dying bride.--The four facardins. Pt. 1--v. 3. The four facardins, Pt. 2.--Oberson's henchmen, or, The legend of the three sisters.--v. 4. My uncle's garret-window.--Bill Jones.--Amorassan, or, The spirit of the frozen ocean.

Ambrosio; or, The Monk. A romance.

Mode of access: Internet.