Neo-gothic motifs in the novel by I. Welsh “The Blade Artist”

Abstract

The peculiarities of the interpretation of neo-gothic motifs in the novel by I. Welsh “The Blade Artist” are examined. Many researchers have paid attention to the processing of the usual neo-gothic tropes in postmodern literature, however, in relation to the novel under consideration by I. Welsh, this problem is posed by authors for the first time. The aim is to highlight the transformation of motifs familiar to neo-gothic traditions (the spatial motif of the castle, the motif of the “otherworldly” and “terrible”, realized in the presence of ghosts, supernatural beings, curses). The task is to prove the continuity of the work of I. Welsh in relation to the neo-gothic tradition, to actualize the specific spatial motif of the “castle” for the gothic and neo-gothic tradition, highlighted by M.M. Bakhtin. The general thesis is put forward that the appeal of postmodern literature (to which the novel “The Blade Artist” belongs) the neo-gothic motives are connected with the meta-genre of neo-gothic as an artistic direction, as well as with the rethinking of the plots and tropes familiar to him. The authors conclude that the usual neo-gothic motifs are used to reflect on the past and present of the region of the United Kingdom - Scotland, as well as to rethink the answers to long-asked questions of morality.

Keywords

• scottish literature
• spatial motifs
• postmodern literature