# Themes

> The 19 recurring themes of Gothic and Victorian fiction on this timeline, from the double to the undead, with the works that carry each.

Canonical page: https://lineageofshadows.com/themes/

## The double

A self split in two, or met again in another body.

- 1818: [Frankenstein](https://lineageofshadows.com/works/frankenstein/), Mary Shelley
- 1839: [The Fall of the House of Usher](https://lineageofshadows.com/works/fall-of-the-house-of-usher/), Edgar Allan Poe
- 1847: [Jane Eyre](https://lineageofshadows.com/works/jane-eyre/), Charlotte Brontë
- 1871: [Carmilla](https://lineageofshadows.com/works/carmilla/), Sheridan Le Fanu
- 1886: [Jekyll and Hyde](https://lineageofshadows.com/works/jekyll-and-hyde/), Robert Louis Stevenson
- 1890: [Dorian Gray](https://lineageofshadows.com/works/the-picture-of-dorian-gray/), Oscar Wilde
- 1909: [The Phantom of the Opera](https://lineageofshadows.com/works/phantom-of-the-opera/), Gaston Leroux

## Science

Experiment, invention and the laboratory as the source of horror.

- 1818: [Frankenstein](https://lineageofshadows.com/works/frankenstein/), Mary Shelley
- 1886: [Jekyll and Hyde](https://lineageofshadows.com/works/jekyll-and-hyde/), Robert Louis Stevenson
- 1887: [Sherlock Holmes](https://lineageofshadows.com/works/sherlock-holmes/), Arthur Conan Doyle
- 1890: [The Great God Pan](https://lineageofshadows.com/works/the-great-god-pan/), Arthur Machen
- 1895: [The Time Machine](https://lineageofshadows.com/works/the-time-machine/), H. G. Wells
- 1896: [Island of Doctor Moreau](https://lineageofshadows.com/works/island-of-doctor-moreau/), H. G. Wells
- 1897: [The War of the Worlds](https://lineageofshadows.com/works/war-of-the-worlds/), H. G. Wells
- 1897: [The Invisible Man](https://lineageofshadows.com/works/the-invisible-man/), H. G. Wells

## The undead

Vampires and the dead who will not stay buried.

- 1819: [The Vampyre](https://lineageofshadows.com/works/the-vampyre/), John Polidori
- 1845: [Varney the Vampire](https://lineageofshadows.com/works/varney-the-vampire/), James Malcolm Rymer or Thomas Peckett Prest
- 1871: [Carmilla](https://lineageofshadows.com/works/carmilla/), Sheridan Le Fanu
- 1897: [Dracula](https://lineageofshadows.com/works/dracula/), Bram Stoker

## Detection

The mystery solved by evidence, method and a detective's eye.

- 1841: [Murders in the Rue Morgue](https://lineageofshadows.com/works/murders-in-the-rue-morgue/), Edgar Allan Poe
- 1868: [The Moonstone](https://lineageofshadows.com/works/the-moonstone/), Wilkie Collins
- 1887: [Sherlock Holmes](https://lineageofshadows.com/works/sherlock-holmes/), Arthur Conan Doyle
- 1901: [The Hound of the Baskervilles](https://lineageofshadows.com/works/hound-of-the-baskervilles/), Arthur Conan Doyle

## Empire

Colonial power, and what comes home from it.

- 1868: [The Moonstone](https://lineageofshadows.com/works/the-moonstone/), Wilkie Collins
- 1887: [Sherlock Holmes](https://lineageofshadows.com/works/sherlock-holmes/), Arthur Conan Doyle
- 1897: [The Beetle](https://lineageofshadows.com/works/the-beetle/), Richard Marsh
- 1897: [The War of the Worlds](https://lineageofshadows.com/works/war-of-the-worlds/), H. G. Wells
- 1899: [Heart of Darkness](https://lineageofshadows.com/works/heart-of-darkness/), Joseph Conrad

## Degeneration

The fear that people, families or nations can slide backwards.

- 1895: [The Time Machine](https://lineageofshadows.com/works/the-time-machine/), H. G. Wells
- 1896: [Island of Doctor Moreau](https://lineageofshadows.com/works/island-of-doctor-moreau/), H. G. Wells
- 1899: [Heart of Darkness](https://lineageofshadows.com/works/heart-of-darkness/), Joseph Conrad

## Women in peril

A heroine trapped, pursued or imprisoned, and how she survives it.

- 1794: [The Mysteries of Udolpho](https://lineageofshadows.com/works/mysteries-of-udolpho/), Ann Radcliffe
- 1819: [The Vampyre](https://lineageofshadows.com/works/the-vampyre/), John Polidori
- 1845: [Varney the Vampire](https://lineageofshadows.com/works/varney-the-vampire/), James Malcolm Rymer or Thomas Peckett Prest
- 1847: [Jane Eyre](https://lineageofshadows.com/works/jane-eyre/), Charlotte Brontë
- 1859: [The Woman in White](https://lineageofshadows.com/works/the-woman-in-white/), Wilkie Collins
- 1871: [Carmilla](https://lineageofshadows.com/works/carmilla/), Sheridan Le Fanu
- 1890: [The Great God Pan](https://lineageofshadows.com/works/the-great-god-pan/), Arthur Machen
- 1898: [The Turn of the Screw](https://lineageofshadows.com/works/turn-of-the-screw/), Henry James

## The house

The castle, abbey or mansion as a character with secrets of its own.

- 1764: [The Castle of Otranto](https://lineageofshadows.com/works/castle-of-otranto/), Horace Walpole
- 1794: [The Mysteries of Udolpho](https://lineageofshadows.com/works/mysteries-of-udolpho/), Ann Radcliffe
- 1839: [The Fall of the House of Usher](https://lineageofshadows.com/works/fall-of-the-house-of-usher/), Edgar Allan Poe
- 1845: [Varney the Vampire](https://lineageofshadows.com/works/varney-the-vampire/), James Malcolm Rymer or Thomas Peckett Prest
- 1847: [Jane Eyre](https://lineageofshadows.com/works/jane-eyre/), Charlotte Brontë
- 1847: [Wuthering Heights](https://lineageofshadows.com/works/wuthering-heights/), Emily Brontë
- 1898: [The Turn of the Screw](https://lineageofshadows.com/works/turn-of-the-screw/), Henry James
- 1901: [The Hound of the Baskervilles](https://lineageofshadows.com/works/hound-of-the-baskervilles/), Arthur Conan Doyle

## The sublime

Mountains, storms and ice that overwhelm the mind with awe and terror.

- 1794: [The Mysteries of Udolpho](https://lineageofshadows.com/works/mysteries-of-udolpho/), Ann Radcliffe

## The supernatural

Ghosts, curses and powers outside nature, real or explained away.

- 1764: [The Castle of Otranto](https://lineageofshadows.com/works/castle-of-otranto/), Horace Walpole
- 1794: [The Mysteries of Udolpho](https://lineageofshadows.com/works/mysteries-of-udolpho/), Ann Radcliffe
- 1796: [The Monk](https://lineageofshadows.com/works/the-monk/), Matthew Lewis
- 1819: [The Vampyre](https://lineageofshadows.com/works/the-vampyre/), John Polidori
- 1820: [Melmoth the Wanderer](https://lineageofshadows.com/works/melmoth-the-wanderer/), Charles Maturin
- 1847: [Wuthering Heights](https://lineageofshadows.com/works/wuthering-heights/), Emily Brontë
- 1890: [Dorian Gray](https://lineageofshadows.com/works/the-picture-of-dorian-gray/), Oscar Wilde
- 1897: [The Beetle](https://lineageofshadows.com/works/the-beetle/), Richard Marsh
- 1898: [The Turn of the Screw](https://lineageofshadows.com/works/turn-of-the-screw/), Henry James
- 1901: [The Hound of the Baskervilles](https://lineageofshadows.com/works/hound-of-the-baskervilles/), Arthur Conan Doyle

## Madness

Minds that break, and narrators who cannot be trusted.

- 1839: [The Fall of the House of Usher](https://lineageofshadows.com/works/fall-of-the-house-of-usher/), Edgar Allan Poe
- 1847: [Jane Eyre](https://lineageofshadows.com/works/jane-eyre/), Charlotte Brontë
- 1847: [Wuthering Heights](https://lineageofshadows.com/works/wuthering-heights/), Emily Brontë
- 1859: [The Woman in White](https://lineageofshadows.com/works/the-woman-in-white/), Wilkie Collins
- 1897: [The Invisible Man](https://lineageofshadows.com/works/the-invisible-man/), H. G. Wells
- 1898: [The Turn of the Screw](https://lineageofshadows.com/works/turn-of-the-screw/), Henry James
- 1899: [Heart of Darkness](https://lineageofshadows.com/works/heart-of-darkness/), Joseph Conrad
- 1909: [The Phantom of the Opera](https://lineageofshadows.com/works/phantom-of-the-opera/), Gaston Leroux

## Sexuality and desire

Forbidden longing, and the respectable surface it threatens.

- 1796: [The Monk](https://lineageofshadows.com/works/the-monk/), Matthew Lewis
- 1871: [Carmilla](https://lineageofshadows.com/works/carmilla/), Sheridan Le Fanu
- 1890: [Dorian Gray](https://lineageofshadows.com/works/the-picture-of-dorian-gray/), Oscar Wilde
- 1897: [The Beetle](https://lineageofshadows.com/works/the-beetle/), Richard Marsh
- 1897: [Dracula](https://lineageofshadows.com/works/dracula/), Bram Stoker
- 1909: [The Phantom of the Opera](https://lineageofshadows.com/works/phantom-of-the-opera/), Gaston Leroux

## Religion and sin

Monks, damnation, temptation and the bargain for a soul.

- 1796: [The Monk](https://lineageofshadows.com/works/the-monk/), Matthew Lewis
- 1820: [Melmoth the Wanderer](https://lineageofshadows.com/works/melmoth-the-wanderer/), Charles Maturin
- 1890: [Dorian Gray](https://lineageofshadows.com/works/the-picture-of-dorian-gray/), Oscar Wilde
- 1896: [Island of Doctor Moreau](https://lineageofshadows.com/works/island-of-doctor-moreau/), H. G. Wells

## Inheritance

Wills, bloodlines and the sins of the fathers.

- 1764: [The Castle of Otranto](https://lineageofshadows.com/works/castle-of-otranto/), Horace Walpole
- 1839: [The Fall of the House of Usher](https://lineageofshadows.com/works/fall-of-the-house-of-usher/), Edgar Allan Poe
- 1847: [Jane Eyre](https://lineageofshadows.com/works/jane-eyre/), Charlotte Brontë
- 1847: [Wuthering Heights](https://lineageofshadows.com/works/wuthering-heights/), Emily Brontë
- 1859: [The Woman in White](https://lineageofshadows.com/works/the-woman-in-white/), Wilkie Collins
- 1868: [The Moonstone](https://lineageofshadows.com/works/the-moonstone/), Wilkie Collins
- 1901: [The Hound of the Baskervilles](https://lineageofshadows.com/works/hound-of-the-baskervilles/), Arthur Conan Doyle

## The city

London, Paris and Edinburgh as labyrinths of fog and crowds.

- 1841: [Murders in the Rue Morgue](https://lineageofshadows.com/works/murders-in-the-rue-morgue/), Edgar Allan Poe
- 1886: [Jekyll and Hyde](https://lineageofshadows.com/works/jekyll-and-hyde/), Robert Louis Stevenson
- 1887: [Sherlock Holmes](https://lineageofshadows.com/works/sherlock-holmes/), Arthur Conan Doyle
- 1897: [The Beetle](https://lineageofshadows.com/works/the-beetle/), Richard Marsh
- 1909: [The Phantom of the Opera](https://lineageofshadows.com/works/phantom-of-the-opera/), Gaston Leroux

## Invasion

Something from outside arrives and will not leave.

- 1897: [The War of the Worlds](https://lineageofshadows.com/works/war-of-the-worlds/), H. G. Wells
- 1897: [Dracula](https://lineageofshadows.com/works/dracula/), Bram Stoker

## Evolution

Bodies shaped by deep time, the beast within and the species to come.

- 1895: [The Time Machine](https://lineageofshadows.com/works/the-time-machine/), H. G. Wells
- 1896: [Island of Doctor Moreau](https://lineageofshadows.com/works/island-of-doctor-moreau/), H. G. Wells
- 1897: [The War of the Worlds](https://lineageofshadows.com/works/war-of-the-worlds/), H. G. Wells

## The unseen

What cannot be seen directly, from invisible men to ghosts at the edge of sight.

- 1890: [The Great God Pan](https://lineageofshadows.com/works/the-great-god-pan/), Arthur Machen
- 1897: [The Invisible Man](https://lineageofshadows.com/works/the-invisible-man/), H. G. Wells
- 1899: [Heart of Darkness](https://lineageofshadows.com/works/heart-of-darkness/), Joseph Conrad
- 1909: [The Phantom of the Opera](https://lineageofshadows.com/works/phantom-of-the-opera/), Gaston Leroux

## Confession and documents

Novels assembled from letters, diaries, testimonies and found papers.

- 1818: [Frankenstein](https://lineageofshadows.com/works/frankenstein/), Mary Shelley
- 1820: [Melmoth the Wanderer](https://lineageofshadows.com/works/melmoth-the-wanderer/), Charles Maturin
- 1847: [Wuthering Heights](https://lineageofshadows.com/works/wuthering-heights/), Emily Brontë
- 1859: [The Woman in White](https://lineageofshadows.com/works/the-woman-in-white/), Wilkie Collins
- 1868: [The Moonstone](https://lineageofshadows.com/works/the-moonstone/), Wilkie Collins
- 1886: [Jekyll and Hyde](https://lineageofshadows.com/works/jekyll-and-hyde/), Robert Louis Stevenson
- 1890: [The Great God Pan](https://lineageofshadows.com/works/the-great-god-pan/), Arthur Machen
- 1897: [Dracula](https://lineageofshadows.com/works/dracula/), Bram Stoker
- 1898: [The Turn of the Screw](https://lineageofshadows.com/works/turn-of-the-screw/), Henry James