Shifting Shadows: The Evolution of Monsters and Villains in Horror Literature Reflecting Societal Fears and Concerns
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.52783/jns.v14.2071Keywords:
horror literature, monsters, villains, societal fears, symbolism, cultural evolutionAbstract
This paper explores the dynamic relationship between the portrayal of monsters and villains in horror literature and the shifting societal fears and concerns throughout history. By examining a diverse array of written scriptures spanning different cultures and periods, this research elucidates how these fictional entities serve as symbolic reflections of their respective societies' collective anxieties and preoccupations. Through thematic analysis and historical contextualization, this paper demonstrates the evolution of horror literature as a mirror to societal fears, from ancient folklore to contemporary narratives, revealing patterns of continuity and transformation in portraying monsters and villains.
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Homer, “The Iliad”, Translated by Robert Fagles, Penguin Classics, 8th century BCE.
Anonymous, “The Epic of Gilgamesh”, Translated by Andrew George, Penguin Classics, c. 7th century BCE.
William Shakespeare, “Macbeth”, Oxford University Press, 1606.
Dante Alighieri, “Inferno”, Translated by Mark Musa, Penguin Classics, c. 1320.
Mary Shelley, “Frankenstein or The Modern Prometheus”, Oxford University Press, 1818.
Bram Stoker, “Dracula”, Oxford University Press, 1897.
Edgar Allan Poe, “The Tell-Tale Heart” and Other Writings, Penguin Classics, 1843.
H.P. Lovecraft, “The Call of Cthulhu and Other Weird Stories”, Penguin Classics, 1982.
Stephen King, “It”, Viking Press, 1986.
Neil Gaiman, “American Gods”, HarperCollins, 2001.
Gillian Flynn, “Gone Girl”, Crown Publishing Group, 2012.
Joe Hill, “NOS4A2”, William Morrow, 2013.
Dante Alighieri, “The Divine Comedy”, Translated by Mark Musa. Penguin Classics, c. 1320.
Beowulf”, Translated by Seamus Heaney, W.W. Norton & Company, c. 8th-11th century.
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