Gothic Introspection: How Villette Nurtures Empathy and Reader Identity

Abstract

While Charlotte Brontë is considered one of the foremost nineteenth-century writers of Gothic psychological realism, scholars have paid little attention to how a reading of the psychologies of her characters may impact readers’ thoughts on their own identity and mental state. This article redresses this gap by combining the field of Gothic Studies with narrative empathy studies to posit that Brontë’s use of Victorian Gothic motifs in her novel Villette (1853), such as the doppelgänger, excess and the abject, prompts readers into considering the struggles of their psychological well-being and how it affects their identity. Through entering a reflection on personal psychological adversity, readers are encouraged to consider how Villette teaches audiences the power of understanding how psychological maladies impact selfhood. This article will analyse how Lucy’s narration, her relationship with the Nun and the novel’s ending connect to Lucy’s psychology and, therefore, create empathetic connections with readers who can better understand their own experiences and mental well-being after reading Villette.