Description of Castle Udolpho, fromThe Mysteries of Udolpho

Description of Castle Udolpho, from The Mysteries of Udolpho

Gothic Castles

This passage from The Mysteries of Udolpho describes a Gothic castle in which the story takes place. Radcliffe's description of Castle Udolpho highlights one of the defining features of Gothic novels: tall, ominous buildings and dark passageways are often where much of the plot takes place. 

Ann Radcliffe

G. G. and J. Robinson

1794

Nick Masterman-Bellflowers

Text

English

Gothic Novel

… though it was now lighted up by the setting sun, the gothic greatness of its features, and its mouldering walls of dark grey stone, rendered it a gloomy and sublime object … the light died away on its walls, leaving a melancholy purple tint, which spread deeper and deeper, as the thin vapour crept up the mountain, while the battlements above were still tipped with splendour. From those too, the rays soon faded, and the whole edifice was invested with the solemn duskiness of evening. Silent, lonely and sublime, it seemed to stand the sovereign of the scene, and to frown defiance on all, who dared to invade its solitary reign. As the twilight deepened, its features became more awful in obscurity … The gateway … leading into the courts was of gigantic size, and was defended by two round towers, crowned by over-hanging turrets, embattled, where, instead of banners, now waved long grass and wild plants … The towers were united by a curtain, pierced and embattled also, below which appeared the pointed arch of an huge portcullis, surmounting the gates: from these, the walls of the ramparts extended to other towers, overlooking the precipice, whose shattered outline … told of the ravages of war.

Novel