The Gothic Tradition in H.P. Lovecraft: An Analysis of “The Call of Cthulhu” (original) (raw)

Gothic Literature awakened in the eighteenth century. It first appeared in Great Britain as a rebellion against the Neoclassical period, which no longer satisfied the needs of the readers nor the wants of the different writers. The Gothic style arrived to the American continent in the last part of the eighteenth century. It was first rejected due to American pragmatism; however, writers soon began to adjust the Gothic literary characteristics to their own cultural features. One of the most recognized American Gothic authors from the twentieth century was Howard Phillips Lovecraft. His work "The Call of Cthulhu" is a clear exponent of the American Gothic trend. The purpose of this essay is to elaborate a detailed study of the previously mentioned Lovecraft's short story and provide a thorough analysis of the main characteristics by which it is considered a key work of American Gothic literature.