Gothic Fiction and Poetry, Essay Example

Life or Eternity?

Human life can be described in many ways, but the most accurate comparison is a road, path on which a person makes a step by step to its final destination – death and oblivion or maybe eternity. It is hard for a human being to perceive eternity, yet they all crave for it. They also crave for understanding and clarity of their situations. Human beings are so hilarious in their attempts to define their existence in terms they know, without realising that it is virtually impossible.

She was fighting with the rain and wind of the storm all the way home. She finally gave up as she approached the old cemetery. She could no longer stay outdoors. She needed a shelter. The only place she could think of was a small, old church in the middle at the end of cemetery. It was dark building full memories of the past and human souls that passed into eternity. Between spirits of the dead and cold rain, she would always choose the first. The church looked abandoned inside, dark cold walls, empty faces of the saints on the fescues and the overwhelming smell of dampness and heaviness of existence. She feeling of oblivion and desperation began to enter her body and freeze her to the bones. She felt colder than under the pouring rain. She began to shiver and regretted that she came here on the first place. “Cold rain and storm are better than this place, at they are full of life, while this place feels of death” – the thought crossed her mind and made her shiver even more.

All of a sudden she could see the light in the left corner of the church – a few candles were burning in front of the image of a beautiful angel surrounded by light and blue sky. She came closer and saw a male figure in front of the image. He was a pure angel: long blond hair, blue eyes and classic features of the face. He wore a well-crafted white suit with a heavenly white shirt open at the collar. He was a living perfection. As she approached, he faced her gaze and depth of his dark blue eyes startled her more than his looks. “What a divine appearance” – she thought.  As if he could read her mind, he smiled a smile full of temptation and promise.

• Do not be afraid, dear child. Come, sit next to me. – His voice was mesmerising and full of promise. She followed his gaze and set next to him on the branch in front of the image of the beautiful angel.
• Who are you and what are you doing here? I thought the place was abandoned – she finally managed to speak. His smile radiated light, and his touch of her cheek gave her warmth.
• I am here, to give you your heart’s desire. I am here to give you the warmth and beauty of existence and to share the eternity with you. That is what you were asking in your secret night prayers and hidden thoughts – not to be alone anymore and to share eternity with someone.
• I will not ask how you know about it, but we both know that it is impossible we all walk alone through life, and then we die. This is a human path.
• Hm, you are different, yet, like any other human you crave for eternity.
• No, I only want to end this unstoppable loneliness and finally belong somewhere.
• How about belonging to someone like me? Going through the time and space together?
• And you are ready to keep this promise and spend the rest of eternity with someone like me? Even Devil has to fulfil his promises. Is my single soul worth of this promise?
• I am not here for buying your soul for a favour, I am here to find out whether you would give your soul out of love for the fallen and unknown, whether you would share the eternity with someone like me willingly and not compulsory.
• I walked through this life alone, I wonder what it is like to dwell with someone in eternity…

The next morning a dead body of a young girl was found in the old church next to the cemetery. She was lying in her wet closes next to the distorted image of some saint and a peaceful smile on her face.

This shirt story corresponds to Poe’s perception of Gothic literature and poetic aesthetics because it is aimed to appeal to audience’s feelings using picturesque imagery and the mood of mystery and certain anticipation. Like Poe’s works, this one has an unexpected ending, leaving the reader wondering about the actual outcome. This shirt story raises the issues of the value of a human life, loneliness and desire for eternity.