Gothic Horror In Arsenic And Old Lace Essay

The play Arsenic and Old Lace fits perfectly in with the theme of Gothic Horror. The idea that people believe otherwise is absurd. Gothic Horror has basic components that start with the letter M, for example, Murder, Melancholy, and Macabre, all of these are displayed within this play. Then there are the two older women luring elderly gentlemen to their deaths because they’ve become a bit lonely, not realizing the seriousness of the acts they commit. Jonathan, the insane and estranged brother of Mortimer makes an appearance as well. His face twisted and contorted to match that of Frankenstein’s creation, with the help of his assistance, Dr. Einstein. Arsenic and Old Lace may not take itself seriously, with it’s comedic edge, but the underlying tones of horror are still prevalent making it an excellent read for studying Gothic Horror.

Arsenic and Old Lace hits several M’s of the Gothic Horror genre. The murder of Mr.Spenalzo and Mr Hoskins is the most obvious, there are two dead men hidden in a window seat, robbed of their life. The Melancholy is covered by the comedy that the play puts on the situation.
He brings with him a mouse of a man, in Dr. Einstein, whom we learn quickly is the criminal partner of the man. He brings with him the dead body of Mr.Spenalzo, a man he killed because he remarked that Jonathan resembled the Actor Boris Karloff (Frankenstein’s Monster). Once again, the comedy of the play takes away from the situation. In reality, the idea of a deranged man, changing faces at a whim, with no qualms about taking the life of another, framing his own family, and taking off to do it again. Thankfully, Jonathan is recognized and dealt with accordingly, but had his plan panned out the way that he intended, he would be back on the streets, with a horrible temper, and the first person that made him upset at all, would likely find themselves in he same situation as Mr.