One Gothic convention is an obsession with the past. This is found in Robert Browning’s poems “Porphyria’s Lover,” “The Laboratory,” and “My Last Duchess”; and Percy Bysshe Shelley’s Gothic drama The Cenci. Gothic literature focuses on the past because it is a genre that is interested in the dark and mysterious. The past is often seen as dark and mysterious, so it makes sense that Gothic literature would focus on it. This focus on the past has a number of effects. First, it creates a sense of atmosphere and suspense. The past is often seen as being full of secrets and hidden knowledge, which makes it suspenseful. Secondly, it allows authors to explore taboo subjects. The past is often seen as being full of dark and hidden secrets, which allows authors to explore taboo subjects that might be difficult to explore in the present. Finally, the focus on the past allows authors to create characters that are complex and multi-dimensional. The past is often seen as being full of conflict and darkness, which allows authors to create characters that are conflicted and have many layers.
