Gothic works have enthused and influenced numerous subtypes of literature comprising of horror fiction, ghost stories, supernatural tales and vampire literature. Medieval narratives disconcert and intrigued readers with the externals proponents such as sullen death imagery, petrifying mountain acts, garish images of bodily degradation (Kohil). Its essence is branded by a tone of high agitation, impossible- to- resolve fear and desperation. The Fiery- Red Beast tale incorporates elements parallel those of middle Ages literature such as mystery. Gothic fiction is which arose from the larger part of romanticism crusade (dark romanticism), is characterized by expressions of elements such as supernatural beliefs, fear and mystery together with themes similar to emotional distress and alienation brought by the industrial revolution.
Supernatural beliefs served as a base for folklores of the 18th-century literature characterized by strange events such as non-living objects coming to life, headless spirits, ghosts or vampires that haunt the main characters. For example, in the story, The Fiery- Red Beast, the readers are suddenly introduced to a weird creature with a mysterious origin. Further, the 18th-century Gothic novelist drew on human psychological features such as the fear of the unknown and mapped it with the rational belief in supernatural powers. The writers endeavoured to elucidate common sense and law of reason. The dual-element become the famous allegory that bridged differing forces of human struggle and inner compulsions such as creativity and destruction. For example, the short story explores the protagonists struggle with boredom and lack of attention for parents which drove to self-destruction. “With no siblings and his parents busy at the plantation, he had to look for ways to amuse himself.” (pg. 1). Therefore, much of the gothic appeal came from the genre’s suggestion of bizarre events.
Furthermore, an entrancing gothic tale arouses the mood of mystery and fear. Inherently, something that is beyond logical understanding affords ways for magic and eerie atmospheres influence this belief. Thus, many works contain bizarre events, scenes and objects such as evils portions, frightful concepts and flickering candles. In the Fiery- Red Beast narrative, their many activities that defy logic. For example, the mysterious appearance of the creature, the disruption of Olson’s room and the roaring fire at the end of the narrative. Such an element make the story more fascinating.
Habitually, gothic writers use extraordinary emotion to express an assumed—hyperbolic and ardent imagery together with language, help to convey terror and panic inherent in their characters. The theme of emotional distress was common among 18th-century writers. It which bore link to the other conservative traditions where wrongdoers and oddities would be punished in such a manner. In the narrative. The Fiery- Red Beast, the author demonstrates the emotional distress Olson goes through for defying lousy weather conditions to seek amusement in the woods. The gods (spirits, ghosts) unleashed their wrath of the rebellious characters.
In essence, the gothic fiction reflects the cultural, political and social context in which they were written. The 18th-century fiction reflected industrial revolution elements, such as individualism, alienation and frivolousness. For example, Olson’s family lived in isolation. Further, the narratives sought to intrigue their readers with the use of remote and wild sceneries, erotic and violent fantasies along with eerie and supernatural happenings.