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Walking home alone always fills me with anxiety, as I constantly fear something bad happening to me. My mind starts conjuring up all the terrible possibilities, and I can't shake the feeling of being followed or watched. Even when I pass through an empty parking lot on my way to my car, the fear of being kidnapped lingers.
Like most people, I have been taught to exercise caution and anticipate worst-case scenarios for personal safety and avoiding harm. The uncertainty surrounding what awaits us after death also contributes to my fear.
The American fascination with everything macabre is rooted in our natural curiosity about death.
This curiosity has existed since humans first encountered mortality and became intrigued by the afterlife.
People's curiosity about what happens after death drives their interest in exploring the unknown. This fascination with the dark side is embedded in American culture, often appearing in various forms such as literature, films, and TV shows. In his article "Zombies: why are we so obsessed?", Eric G.
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Wilson references the prevalence of zombie and vampire-themed media in today's society. Shows like "True Blood," "The Walking Dead," and the "Twilight" series are popular examples he mentions to illustrate our captivation and to help explain our fixation on death. Wilson suggests that our preoccupation with zombies may stem from a deep-seated fear of a deadly virus that could transform us into ravenous corpses longing for human flesh.
Wilson (1) suggested that a worldwide economic collapse could result in post-apocalyptic situations, causing fear. The article recognizes that the answer to what happens after death is unknown and will always remain so.
However, our interest in death and the afterlife is fueled by sheer curiosity. These television shows are produced for entertainment purposes and to provide relief from the unanswerable queries we contemplate every day, despite the uncertainty of their answers. The multitude of artistic works dedicated to the darker aspects of life, which emerged during the gothic era around the mid-12th century, serves as evidence of our desire to comprehend.
Edgar Allen Poe, an early American author of gothic literature, captivates readers with his exploration of society's fascination or fear of death. What sets his writing apart is its ability to immerse readers in the experience of death from another perspective, lessening any repulsion they may feel towards it or the afterlife. The mysterious nature of the afterlife only adds to its allure and creates a desire for knowledge and understanding. By delving into gothic literature like Poe's works, we can search for answers and find comfort in our apprehension of the unknown. This interest in the darker aspects of human nature, which mirrors our own fears, contributes to Poe's enduring popularity as a writer. One notable example of his gothic literature is The Masque of the Red Death.
During the 14th century in Europe, a deadly epidemic called the Red Death has caused numerous deaths. To protect himself, Prince Prospero has isolated himself within a fortified abbey. The abbey consists of seven rooms, each representing a different stage of life and decorated in various colors: light blue for life, purple, green, orange, white, violet, and black for the fear of death. Every day, the rising sun illuminates the eastern room symbolizing the beginning of life while the setting sun casts shadows in the western black room symbolizing the end of life. Despite the severity of the Red Death epidemic, Prince Prospero decides to host a masquerade ball in his castle but only invites aristocrats who appear healthy. Both Prospero and his guests foolishly believe that they are safe from the disease because their sanctuary is surrounded by strong walls.
Inside the black room, escape is impossible and entry is restricted. The room's decor is unique, featuring a death symbolizing ebony clock that chimes each hour to remind the partygoers of their fear of mortality. The masqueraders, with their grotesque appearances, are considered peculiar. Towards the end of the story, an uninvited guest clad in a corpse costume, representing the red death, disrupts the festivities. This creature roams from room to room, passing the guests until reaching the black room located in the westernmost part. Except for Prince Prospero, who passionately follows him while brandishing a drawn dagger, nobody dares to approach the shrouded man. Upon confrontation, Prospero lets out a scream and crumples to the floor lifeless. Standing in the clock's shadow, it becomes apparent to the partiers that there is no living being behind this disguise. With this realization, one by one, the guests meet their demise. In an ironic twist, Poe concludes the story by highlighting death's inevitability despite Prospero and the partiers' attempts to evade it. Each time the ebony clock symbolizing death chimes, all activities come to a halt as the guests contemplate mortality.
"When the clock chimes, even the liveliest among the guests pause and reflect on death's inevitability. The older and more composed individuals contemplate their own lives and what lies ahead in the afterlife. Filled with a fear of death, the party attendees strive to avoid facing it, uncertain of what awaits them beyond. As the clock's chimes resonate, silence descends upon the crowd as they delve into deep thought, pondering their beliefs about death. It is during this time that they also accept that their lives will eventually conclude. It is as if everyone experiences a temporary transformation, acknowledging that evading death indefinitely is impossible."
However, as soon as the clock stops echoing, these thoughts fade away and everyone goes back to their previous activities, disregarding the thoughts they just had, as if nothing had occurred. Laughter fills the room as the guests continue to party. Later, as midnight approaches - signifying the end of both the day and life itself - a mysterious masked stranger interrupts the festivities. The moment this figure is noticed, the partygoers fall silent, sensing something peculiar about their unexpected guest. "Among the throng were many individuals who had found time to notice the presence of a masked figure, which had previously gone unnoticed by anyone. As whispers of this new presence spread throughout the crowd, a collective murmur of disapproval and surprise arose from all around..." (2) In hushed tones, the revelers ponder what symbolic importance this unwelcome intruder might hold.
With an unwavering gaze, the guests strive to unravel the enigma of this unfamiliar figure. At first, they are unsettled by the presence of such an occurrence at a party that explicitly prohibits anything associated with death. Their initial reaction is one of disapproval and disgust upon encountering this peculiar individual. However, they quickly begin to silently discuss and speculate about the essence of this uncommon circumstance. The attendees persist in observing and conversing as they endeavor to comprehend the significance behind this otherworldly state fueled by their captivation with what lies beyond. Poe's gothic literature is not alone in depicting society's profound fascination with mortality.
William Faulkner, a famous American author known for his gothic literature in the 20th century, is renowned for his gothic writing style. One of his notable works includes A Rose for Emily, a gothic horror story set in the antebellum South. The narrative focuses on Emily Grierson's life from her funeral to when she reaches 74 years old.
Emily, an unmarried woman living under her father's control, is an eccentric aristocrat who becomes trapped in their home. When her father dies at 30 years old, Emily refuses to accept his death and insists he is still alive for three days: "She told them that her father was not dead. She did that for three days..." (3).
Inheriting only the house without any other inheritance from her father, Emily struggles with accepting her declining social status and remains in denial. However, her life takes an unexpected turn when she meets Homer Barron, a construction foreman from the North who claims he will never marry.
Despite her lack of wealth, Emily exhibits a patronizing demeanor towards a man, perceiving herself as superior. The local women assume that Grierson would never take someone like him seriously. Eventually, she falls in love, but her affection for Homer mirrors her father's controlling love. In an effort to preserve their relationship and halt the passage of time, Emily resorts to killing him. When she passes away at 74 years old, neighbors attend her funeral under the pretense of showing respect but driven by morbid curiosity about her and her home. Following her burial, Homer Barron's decomposed body is discovered in what appears to be a disturbing bridal chamber and shrine. Throughout the story, themes of death and denial are prominent: from the deaths of Emily's father and Homer to her refusal to accept their passings or acknowledge her diminished status until ultimately meeting her own demise.
Emily's insatiable desire for attention and approval fuels her curiosity regarding life and death. Despite not being very familiar with him, she defies societal norms by taking carriage rides from Homer. Her father's passing grants her newfound freedom and ignites her interest in what she has missed out on in life. In her love for Homer, she imitates her father's behavior by exerting control over his every action as a way to express affection in her own unique manner. The arrival of her cousins prompts Homer to depart, triggering Emily's fear of abandonment and neglect. When Homer eventually returns, Emily poisons him out of curiosity about a life without him, driven by an underlying fear. Ultimately, she strives to prevent this possibility from ever occurring. The theme of fascination with death can be found throughout history in gothic literature as well as contemporary times.
The popular TLC show, Long Island Medium, follows Theresa Caputo as she claims to have the unique ability to communicate with deceased individuals. Caputo brings comfort and closure to those grieving by interacting with spirits. The series captivates viewers who are curious about their departed loved ones' well-being and emotions. This fascination with the afterlife reflects society's interest in darker aspects of life. With over a decade of experience connecting with spirits, Caputo displays her extraordinary skills in everyday situations like a trip to the supermarket, where she encounters two women—one pushing a stroller carrying an infant.
Theresa, a medium, regularly approaches people with a smile on her face. She tells them her name and proceeds to talk to a woman with a baby about the energy between parents and their recognition and excitement towards the baby. Theresa then asks if the mother's parents had died. The woman, Vanessa, shares how both her parents had passed away without saying goodbye. Theresa assures Vanessa that her dad is acknowledging the birth of her son along with her mom. Vanessa responds with a somewhat melancholic smile and an "okay." Theresa continues by informing Vanessa that her parents are watching over the baby in the rocking chair of his room, relaying a message from Vanessa's mother's spirit about the baby's yellow room in their new house. Vanessa and her aunt express disbelief through smiles and laughter. Theresa emphasizes that Vanessa's mother's soul is with her because Vanessa doesn't feel her presence. Vanessa admits to never feeling her mother's spiritual presence.
Vanessa expresses her disbelief and comments, "I always say that. I can't believe you just said that." She shares how her mother kissed her and expressed pride in her, which brings tears to Vanessa's eyes. It feels like she has been eagerly waiting for answers about her parents and their thoughts for a long time.
Death is a universal experience for almost every person. The show's notoriety may come from the human desire to understand what happens after death, even though it remains unknown. Society yearns for any form of explanation regarding the afterlife.
Other contemporary gothic television shows also explore society's curiosity about the unknown and the afterlife, but in fictionalized ways. For instance, Pretty Little Liars on ABC Family revolves around four girls trying to unravel the mystery surrounding their friend Allison's death.
After the confirmation of Allison's death, the four girls began receiving unsettling texts and messages from an anonymous sender known as "A." Since Allison was the only one they had confided in with all their secrets, they believed that their secrets would remain safe after her passing. However, "A" possesses knowledge about every aspect of each girl's life: finances, romantic relationships, and even criminal activities. The girls realize that they are all being targeted by "A" and join forces to uncover the mystery surrounding both "A" and Allison's demise. They question whether "A" is truly Allison and if she is still alive. As they strive to solve this puzzle, their lives are put at risk, causing changes in their reputations and self-confidence.
The consequences of the girls' simple curiosity are their obsession with finding out what happened to their friend and what will happen to them if they solve the mystery. At the start of this popular series, the beloved friend Allison, who they trusted, mysteriously disappeared causing a uproar in the town. Later, her dead body was found by the police. The girls begin to question whether Allison is truly dead or if her spirit is communicating with them through eerie text messages that contain information only she would know.
The curiosity possessed by individuals leads them to question the true fate of their friend. Without curiosity, they would not involve themselves in the enigmatic plans set forth by an unknown individual. Their curiosity fuels their determination to uncover every detail surrounding their friend's demise and expose the truth behind it. The existence of numerous books, stories, television shows, and movies that delve into life's more sinister aspects is a direct result of society's fascination with death and what lies beyond. Society is enthralled by the allure of mystery, which serves as motivation for the creation of various sources of information. Curiosity is an inherent part of human nature; lacking it would mean no multibillion-dollar industry dedicated to addressing people's inquiries. It is this curiosity that has ignited America's captivation with life's darker side.
The Fear of Death: Exploring American Fascination with the Macabre. (2016, Dec 26). Retrieved from https://studymoose.com/societys-curiosity-of-the-unknown-essay
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