WASHINGTON IRVING, THE SPECTRE BRIDEGROOM
WASHINGTON IRVING
Washington Irving was born on April 3, 1783, in New York and died on November 28, 1859, in Tarrytown, New York. He
was an American historian, biographer, and essayist. He was an American
ambassador in Spain from 1842 to 1846.
Irving was the first American author to achieve
international literary renown. Therefore, he is considered the “first American man of letters.” Although,
He is best known for his short stories “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” and “Rip Van
Winkle”, this article is intended to analyze the story “The Spectre
Bridegroom” which is Part of “The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent.
THE SPECTRE BRIDEGROOM
About Irving's stories,
it is said that they were written to entertain rather than allow people to
think about the historical movement their society was living or reflect on
their role in that society, which from my point of view is part of the
objective of good literature. In fact, the Spectre bridegroom starts to be told
by a narrator, let's suppose that this narrator is an old grandfather telling a
horror story on a dark night of camping to his grandsons.
It could be said that this story is part of the gothic
genre. The origin of the Gothic novel is attributed
to Horace Walpole who wrote ‘The Castle of Otranto’ in 1764.
According
to some experts, the words Goth and Gothic are related to Germanic tribes Goths,
Visigoths, and Ostrogoths who devastated
Europe during the Middle Age. However, in
the 18th century, the term started to be associated with the
medieval era, which is perceived as a superstitious, barbarian, and inhuman
time. Later, the term moved into the literary genre which is characterized by
its fascination with death, supernatural forces and other elements to horrify
and entertain.
Taking into account the characteristics of the genre cited by Oconnor
Fenton, A. (2019) is necessary to mention that the story took place in the old
castle of Count Von Landshort, who is the bride's father.
Another aspect to be pointed out is that characters also assumed that
the bride was kidnaped by a spectre. In the end, readers will discover the truth.
Anyway, the plot is full of mystery and suspense.
What is more important to highlight is the fact that the main character
is supposed to be a spectre. Besides, during the whole story, the writer
describes a gray landscape in which people are in danger like the scene in
which count Von Altenburg was killed by some thieves.
In addition, the bride's aunts are always burdened, they are superstitious and thought ghosts really exist creating a heightened sense of drama.
Regarding the deepest details
of this story, which was originally published in 1819, it is said that is a
ghost story about a Baron’s daughter’s engagement to Count Van Altenburg and
the strange incidents around their wedding. However, if you ask me, it is about
a couple who have a romance in some strange circumstances.
To tell you the truth, I
did not like the way the story began. However, I continued reading it because
it was part of my academic job. Anyway, little by little I got into the story,
reading for pleasure as I usually want to read.
In the beginning, I
believed it was a real horror story about a ghost. I knew the groom asked the
Cavalier, who was supposed to be one of his friends to go to the Baron's castle
to tell him and his fiancée that he was killed by some thieves.
However, the cunning of
the narrator led me to think that perhaps the murdered boyfriend's desire to
meet his girlfriend could have left him in limbo, making him a ghost who wanted to have the first date with
his love.
This was the story I
thought I was reading, and it seems to me it could have been the perfect
ending.
That’s why, the end of
the story really surprised me, but not in the way people can think, I really
wanted to have more, and now I know that perhaps what Irving wanted to
highlight was the fact that ghosts throughout history have been used to cover
or hide forbidden love.
Taking about the Plot
of this story, I have to say that the narrator was good enough to describe the
scenery in which the story took place, and he was too intelligent to encourage
readers to think about a period in which people believe in ghosts.
·
The story took place on the summit of one of the heights of the
Odenwald, a wild and romantic tract of Upper Germany, that lies not far from
the confluence of the Main and the Rhine, there stood, many, many years since,
the Castle of the Baron Von Landshort. It is now quite fallen to decay, and
almost buried among be beech trees and dark firs; about which, however, its old
watch-tower may still be seen, struggling.
Subsequently, I will
include the description of the main characters of this story; between
quotation marks I will cite interesting asides in the way the author praises
them or, on the contrary, caricatures them as traditional characters of the
society of the time, this somewhat contradicts those who have stated that Irving's
stories were created only to entertain.
From my point of view, I
consider that Irving could be giving us an idea of characteristic characters of
an era, and in a certain way condemning arranged marriages:
1.
The baron Von Landshort:
a father who follows traditional ways to educate his daughter, he is too
strict.
·
He is described to be
part of “a dry branch of the great family of Katzenellenbogen,” “a family of
those parts very powerful in former times”. He is the one who arranged her
daughter's marriage to a powerful man who was killed on the way to her first
meeting with his girlfriend.
· “The baron, though a small man, had a large soul, and it swelled with satisfaction at the consciousness of being the greatest man in the little world about him”.
2. The Bride: The Baron's daughter. “She was brought up with great care under the superintendence of two maiden aunts”. “She had even made considerable proficiency in writing; could sign her own name without missing a letter, and so legibly, that her aunts could read it without spectacles. She excelled in making little elegant good-for-nothing ladylike nicknacks of all kinds; was versed in the most abstruse dancing of the day; played a number of airs on the harp and guitar and knew all the tender ballads of the Minne-lieder by heart”.
3.
The young Count Von Altenburg (Bridegroom). He
was killed on his way to see his girlfriend for the first time. He asked his
best friend to tell his fiancée what happened.
·
“In this way, they had
entered among the mountains of the Odenwald, and were traversing one of its
most lonely and thicklywooded passes. It is well known that the forests of
Germany have always been as much infested by robbers as its castles by
spectres; and, at this time, the former were particularly numerous, from the
hordes of disbanded soldiers wandering about the country. It will not appear
extraordinary, therefore, that the cavaliers were attacked by a gang of these
stragglers, in the midst of the forest. They defended themselves with bravery,
but were nearly overpowered, when the count’s retinue arrived to their
assistance. At sight of them the robbers fled, but not until the count had
received a mortal wound. He was slowly and carefully conveyed back to the city
of Wurtzburg, and a friar summoned from a neighboring convent, who was famous
for his skill in administering to both soul and body; but half of his skill was
superfluous; the moments of the unfortunate count were numbered”.
·
“With his dying breath he
entreated his friend to repair instantly to the castle of Landshort, and
explain the fatal cause of his not keeping his appointment with his bride”.
4.
Herman Von Starkenfaust, is the one who arrives
at the Baron’s castle to tell what happened to the Bridegroom.
·
The Baron's attitude and
the beauty of the fiancée did not permit him to tell the truth, He pretend to
be the Bridegroom and when he left the castle he said he was the specter
Bridegroom.
·
One of the stoutest
hands, and worthiest hearts, of German chivalry, who was now returning from the
army. His father’s castle was not far distant from the old fortress of
Landshort, although an hereditary feud rendered the families hostile, and
strangers to each other.
·
“I am sorry,” said the
stranger, “to break in upon you thus unseasonably-” Here the baron interrupted
him with a world of compliments and greetings; for, to tell the truth, he
prided himself upon his courtesy and eloquence. The stranger attempted, once or
twice, to stem the torrent of words, but in vain, so he bowed his head and
suffered it to flow on…
·
“The cavalier took but
little notice of the company or the entertainment. He scarcely tasted the
banquet, but seemed absorbed in admiration of his bride”.
4. The two aunts: women who had spent some years of their early life at one of the little German courts and were skilled in all the branches of knowledge necessary to the education of a fine lady.
·
“having been great flirts
and coquettes in their younger days, were admirably calculated to be vigilant
guardians and strict censors of the conduct of their niece”
5.
The servants (people who serve in the Baron’s castle).
Finally, it is necessary to say that I loved reading
this story as I have loved reading other Irving stories like the ones I mentioned
before. One of the things I love the most about the author is his power to keep
me reading to know what will happen at the end.
REFERENCES
Britannica.com. (n.d). Washington Irving. American author. Retrieved January 6th, 2022 from https://www.britannica.com/biography/Washington-Irving.
Oconnor Fenton, A. (2019). Terror and Wonder: 10 key
elements of Gothic literature. Retrieved
January 6th, 2022 from Terror
and Wonder: 10 key elements of Gothic literature – bridgeman blog
(bridgemanimages.com).
The Gothic Experience. (n.d). Gothic
Architecture. Retrieved
January 6th, 2022 from http://academic.brooklyn.cuny.edu/english/melani/gothic/gothic.html.
Wikipedia. (n.d). Washinton Irving. Retrieved January 6th, 2022 from https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington_Irving
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In my opinion, Irving in 'the specter bridegroom' uses dramatic irony to shine a spotlight on what he considered stupid human weaknesses, and ends his story on a happy note intended to encourage his readers to relax a bit.
ResponderEliminarWashington Irving was for me a genius in his time I can say that "The Spectre Bridegroom" is a literary work that stands out for Washington Irving's mastery in creating evocative atmospheres and memorable characters. Through his descriptive prose and his ability to weave supernatural elements into a romantic plot, Irving immerses us in a world full of mystery and emotion. The work also reflects on the nature of legends and how they can influence our perceptions and decisions in real life. In "The Spectre Bridegroom," Irving weaves an enchanting and mysterious story that combines elements of romance, comedy and gothic horror.
EliminarI would to say that Washington Irving was a great writer with a particular
ResponderEliminarbut catching writing style. Because of the fact that his stories, with that satirical hint,
were inspired in his voyages, history, and all the folklore around them, allow me to infer that he might be an opened-minded man, creative and with a positive outlook of life since he seemed not to despise the significances in the “outsider world” although he was a man coming from a prominent family. Besides, I dare infer that he was an honest man and of pure feelings as it is said that he maintained close ties with his family all his life. Also, the tragedy of his fiancée and the grief it is said he experienced, plus the fact he never got engaged after that situation, allow me to restate his honesty and pure feelings and also to add that he may be a committed person. But there is something I am still wondering: why did he use to write under pseudonyms?
Hello friend: I know that throughout history, many authors have decided to write or sign their stories under another name to keep their identity away from public life, or because they are important figures in society and they do not want to be identified.
EliminarI have read that some women had to sign with men's names as a requirement of their publishers.
Sometimes famous writers do not want to be associated with new works. They do not want to generate expectation about it. They want to know how good and accepted by the audience could be.
Another reason could be a literary contest in which the writers want to participate.
Also because the writer is already famous for a particular theme or saga and wants to write something totally different
Inspiration
EliminarIn the darkness of my cell
The change of this is coming
Will it be the same? Better? Worse?
I’ve met my next jailer,
But the words stay in my mind
And just a little look at him, I can show him to convey my thought
In the darkness of my cell
At midnight, my jailer approaches
In the darkness of my cell
I surrender to my prisoner
In the darkness of my cell
The most impudent thoughts come to my mind
And my prisoner becomes my lover
In the darkness of another cell
I think I live happiness
In my opinion, I want to say that this story is a terrific tale of terror and true love, because it is a story that renovates the depressed glory of the ghost story and the corporal convention that, though destine to the grave, men cannot seem to keep out of the graveyard to sabe their lives. In addition, this is a story where the title character triumphs not through strength or intelligence, but rather though manipulating the imaginations of those who would oppose his intentions.
ResponderEliminarThe specter of bridegroom was an interesting story but I wouldn't take it as a horror story completely, because although the baron mentions some horror story, this story is based a little more on the love between two people who don't know each other but that when they start sharing they fall in love, and although Herman Von Starkenfaust only wanted to communicate what happened with Hilda's true fiancé, but as soon as he set foot in the castle, people believed that he was Von Altenburg, and upon learning the story of what happened With this man, comments were made about the love of a lady with a specter or demon, which for those times would be seen in bad way or considered as witchcraft, for which I feel that the story was based on a misinterpretation or an error in the presentations.
ResponderEliminarThis amazing story written by Whashinton Irving, allows us to explore an medieval world that let the imagination fly. The differents elements in the story described in this particular style proposed by the author was interesting. Besides, I would say that the development of the different characters , and their personalities found in the specter of bridegroom were carefully built, so the author could trasmit his message through them and in this way allow the readers to learn important aspects of the story and its background. In general I enjoyed the reading a lot and I was able to learn new things after read it.
ResponderEliminarBy: Jesus David Carvajal Diaz
The Spectre of the Bridegroom by Washington Irving is a finest way to critizice without being unpolite and not for entertain only. Irving in his posicion of embassor uses the local stories to show to his audience what I consider the strict and traditional social customs of that society. the story first started depicting us the context in which the story is carried out, discribing the environment, the people, and their believes.
ResponderEliminarI liked it a lot because the plot takes us little by little and deeder and deeper in what the author wants us to see, letting us in espectations, He conbines the magic world with the real one, taking the so known situation of the country he discribed, as the paths and ways full of thieves and ghost stories.
with regard to the characters I amased with the cavalier and how He by the sake of love dared to create such a great lie, and how he little by little readdress the situation as he wanted.
The story of The Specter of the Bridegroom by Washington Irving may at first be difficult to read and engage with, but as the reader follows the thread of the story it may become interesting due to the way the author describes in detail the settings where the actions take place, the characters have particular and human characteristics that make them easy to distinguish and relate to and the story has a constant turn of events that the reader does not expect; it is important to mention that this turn of events goes from a great and marked romantic idealism to ironic situations that border on comedy. Certainly, this is a story worth reading as it is entertaining, presents important cultural aspects and the description of the places is such well detailed that the reader, through imagination, can feel as if he is traveling between scenarios.
ResponderEliminarBy: Jose D. Sibaja Corena.
This incredible story tells us fantastic facts mixed with pieces of love and also of terror, which makes the work very interesting to read and you can also be entertained to the point of immersing yourself in the story. The characters shown are a great reflection of the middle ages, where their culture was not very liberal, so in many characters we see many stereotypes, both male and female, such as the passive woman, or the man of war and commitment. In the end everyone gets carried away by their passions and makes the ending a happy moment.
ResponderEliminarBy: Jose Daniel Salleg
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ResponderEliminarIrving can be defined as a great author in literature because of his highlighted contributions to the literary world along with other authors that tried to leave a mark by representing their lives in words. One of this author's job is "The Spectre Bridegroom"; a story which is quite engaging, since it is short, with simple language (in most of the content), the plot is understandable, when reading it is quite easy to imagine each aspect that is mentioned (due to the effects applied by the author) and contains well-designed characters. In general, the author of this story knew perfectly well how to manipulate readers emotions -an aspect that is not easy, but that in turn is quite significant for writers-.
ResponderEliminarThe story “The Specter of the Bridegroom” by the essayist and American historian, Washington Irving, allows us to imagine the situation, characters, and context. In the beginning, the author describes a typical celebration of two people who are going to marry without whom they have met before. The young woman did not have an idea about how was her fiancé because she was educated in a traditional way in which she had a passive role in society. From my point of view, I am not feel connected at the beginning of the story, but later I was interested to keep on reading due to the ironic, satiric style’s Lrving.
ResponderEliminarAccording to some historians, Washington Irvin owes recognition to his work largely because he was the first to do it. However, in my point of view, Irvin was the first, but to get things right; his way of using literature to make people laugh is certainly his own unique style.
ResponderEliminarA great example of this was one of his celebrated works, “The Specter of the Bridegroom”. This work has very particular characteristics of what was beginning to be American literature. In my own experience reading it, I can say that it was a bit boring at the beginning, I suppose it was due to the fact that in Irvin's style the detailed, almost historical description of the facts is given. However, the feeling ends at the moment where the plot of the story is at its maximum "salseo". In addition to the above, the outcome of the story was something I did not expect, so in the end, I was able to appreciate the value of this work and enjoy a good read. by: Gabriela Marchena.
To be honest, it's a story that for me doesn't fit into the horror or horror genre if it's something fanciful and mysterious, but it's a bit confusing at first. I was able to analyze some aspects and customs that they used to have, for example when parents arranged marriages, which is the part where Hilda did not know her fiancé and that is why she wanted to know something about the other thing that I rescue is gossip and beliefs, which we can see in the part where Hilda's father believes that he will have ghost grandchildren because it was whispered that he was his daughter's fiancé, also in the part of the witch that appears and gives Hilda the mirror there we see that the sorcerers strongly believed in the adding to this the part where she gives him the exact instructions in which this work could be done, which would be at 12 o'clock at night, I clarify and admire the writer Irvin, who is someone who goes into great detail about the aspects of his characters, whether they are expressions, physical scenes, he is someone very detailed, which is something that helps the reader to engage with the story, since the character that is being read at that time is inserted as filler or in my ca it happened to me
ResponderEliminarby: Laura Marzola group on Thursdays at 3 in the afternoon
This story is considered one of the best short stories by Washington Irving that contains somewhat of irony, romantics, humor, terror, mystery, and supernatural powers. It represented well the ideas and beliefs of its author. At some point, it tries to question your mind and your morality as a human being.
ResponderEliminarThis author has created a magnificent story since this tale brings so many twists and keeps the readers attached to the story. I think that the author´s key was to make the story unpredictable, in other words, every new page has hints of what is yet to come but you still have doubts about the whole scenario. Having this impact back then and keeping it now just demonstrates his abilities and what an incredible author he really was
ResponderEliminarThe style of writing in this tale seems to be similar to other works of Irving, but certainly this time he figures out how to play if up with all the showy behaviors and panache that he could gather. The ghost story style calls the audience attention and for people who is introducing themselves to this type of stories is a perfect election.
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ResponderEliminarWashington Irving is one of the author who used literature to make people laugh and caricature reality, also creating the colloquial style. Although he kept out of the political and social movements that altered him, he was a perfect representative of romanticism. In face, what he captures of the romantic spirit are its most superficial traits: the love of the past, of the Middle Ages, of the fantastic and of legends, or the traveler's impulse that led so many writers and artists to delight in ruins.
ResponderEliminarI think that his life was full of different events and his stories are ideas of these scenarios that he experienced in real life. Not only that but the way he intends to be immersed inside the story gives a plus to the tale and it becomes like storytelling rather than being reading the whole narrative. In my opinion, the author manages to make the story flow with every plot twist. In the beginning, I was thrilled by how the events were developed and how gracefully the characters adapted to those circumstances that in real life can be seen as dishonest and lacking comprehension of others' suffering. Overall, the author shows in this story how beautiful he could write.
ResponderEliminarThis work by whashintong Irving is a story in which a strange love story is revealed, where the girl's boyfriend is murdered by thieves, thus ending a love, it is worth mentioning that this courtship was arranged as everything love affair from ancient times, was chosen by the father who was observing the economy of his daughter's future husband, seeing this he chose the best option, therefore, it is worth mentioning that it is a work that appears to be of terror, but it is not. It is the fight for love when the dead boyfriend's friend decides not to tell the girlfriend anything about the death of her lover, because the beauty of the girl was incomparable.
ResponderEliminarNow, I can point out that the narration has an adequate wording, as far as my impressions are concerned, it is to limit that it is a work that in the light of truth is a writing that intends to cover up a story that was lived at that time in society.
This short story is really interesting and keep us with an eye on it, but for me was a little confusing in the part of the conversation between the dying count and his new friend. i thought that the man who went to the castle was the friend, but when that man was in the castle said that he was in the wrong place, and that the worms were waiting for him in the graveyard. despite this, the story was amazing, it makes you laugh, get scared and use a lot your imagination. i also think that Washington Irving wanted to show us his amazing writing, and is absolutely evident that he is one of those writers that don´t have any bad works.
ResponderEliminarIrving's writing is really interesting and fun. This story tells the love story between a human and a ghost but does not leave aside the drama and intrigue for the other characters. Here Irving with his unique way of writing combines both love with a little bit of mystery. For me it was entertaining and a bit burlesque, as the characters represent or personify a traditional family, so it is a mockery for those people who believe in or are horrified by ghosts. The author tries to normalize in the story the sighting of ghosts, which could unwittingly be among us. I liked the way in which Irving pokes fun at his chracters' susperstitions.
ResponderEliminarIrving Washington managed to create an unique love story with an eerie feeling, amidst of tragic and unexpected happenings but where love still manages to win no matter what. I thought it was a nice and sometimes funny story that was full of hope when the dad changes for the better being more understanding and the maiden becomes more confident; Overall i think it deserves it's place as a classic of literature and Washington Irving has a great way of expressing his ideas.
ResponderEliminarValentina Otero
Este comentario ha sido eliminado por el autor.
ResponderEliminarThis book is very interesting because it tell us about topics that are of interest, we are all interested in ghosts. Irving rally made a striking story where feelings of love and suspense were really noticeable. The enviroment in which the story takes place was very interesting and in a certain way it plays with our minds so that we draw our conclusion. Without a doubt the part where the suspense and emotion due to the death of the boyfriend is the best, i thin that from that part the emotion of the story begins.
ResponderEliminarIrving was a great writer who make people know the ascenario where the story is going to be carried out and I liked it a lot.
ResponderEliminarThe specter brigderoom was a really good story because all the aspect mentioned there. The story makes you think about the unreal things and make you doubth if those gost exist or not. What i like the most is that the story is not that clear at the enda and we may give it an ended sometimes the way we want it to be. I loved this story because it reminds me my town and all the horror stories that old people used to tell just to make me fell terrify and when I was reading this one I thought about it and I got engaged with it. (Adalberto Buendia)
The famous Gothic city is none other than New York itself. But, the term Gothic is not modern, but has an English origin, and means "goat farm". It was precisely Irving who used it for the first time to refer to this metropolis with a sarcastic tone.
ResponderEliminarIn a series of critical articles, the writer used this adjective to refer to the city. His intention was to make an analogy of the "unintelligent" behavior of its inhabitants.
Irving's writing really call my attention because it was an interesting story about a forbidden love between a beautiful girl and a ghost, also i like the way he presented and described the characters and the atmosphere setted, in my personal opinion since i love dark and misterious things and horror i found it fantastic.
ResponderEliminarSomething really important to remark about Irving Washington's work in the literature world is his stronger copyright laws that defends and covers writters and their jobs from people looking advantages from their hard work. Due to that, Irving was the United States ambassador in Spain specifically 1840.
ResponderEliminarThis story shows a part of how Irving wrote which is important to highlight the way in which he embodied it in his works, uses a lot of imagination and a little terror which I found interesting. I consider Washington Irving as a successful writer who innovated in his time bringing fresh stories and new stories in which a use of the genre was evidenced.
ResponderEliminarTook from Wikipedia
ResponderEliminarThe style of writing in this tale seems to be similar to other works of
ResponderEliminarAs Irving's creations, The Specter Bridegroom is one of those shorts stories which is both, gothic and terrific work that gave him this recognition not only in America or Europe but around the world. Moreover, this kind of writings were the ones which encouraged the careers of others great American authors such as Nathaniel Hawthorne, Edgar Allan Poe, and Herman Melville. Taken from https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington_Irving%23:~:text%3DIrving%2520was%2520one%2520of%2520the,Melville%2520and%2520Edgar%2520Allan%2520Poe.&ved=2ahUKEwjktqepyYD4AhXpoWoFHVZND8kQFnoECBMQBQ&usg=AOvVaw3A2Zrm4WpTHKQVLek2A4uL
Also, it's necessary to point out that in that period, it was curious to talk about those topics since people were too superstitious
EliminarThis story was developed in the Gothic period and we can confirm it with the following aspects presented in the narrative: the ghosty atmosphere, the castle, the ghost, and relevant topics such as death. I want to highlight a part that I really loved; when the impostor's husband didn't reveal his real intention and married that girl. I think His reasons were based on fear, due to an old family feud between the Starkenfaust and Landshort families. Starkenfaust is determined to protect his beloved and her feelings and avoid creating more troubles between the families that could end their romance. I really loved this representation of human behavior that the author made about one of the most common reactions to fear. To conclude, I really love his literary style because he has the ability to fully immerse the reader into his narrative and stand out.
ResponderEliminarWashington Irving was an American short-story writer, essayist, biographer, historian, and diplomat of the early 19th century who had a Unique way of writing. Referring to his story “The Spectre Bridegroom” from my point of view, I thought the story would have a different ending since at the beginning I believed the spectre was Von Altenburg, the man who was supposed to marry the young lady, but got killed before meeting her. Even if the end of the story was not the one that I was waiting for, the story caught my attention from the beginning to the end. While I was reading it, I felt I wanted to know what was going to happen next, thus I maintained really concentrated. This dramatic story allowed me to have my own conclusions: first, I learned from the aunts that educated the young lady in such a strict way, that parents should not be overly protective with their children, instead they need to cherish them and not be so calculating with their lives, especially when it comes to marriage for the reason that sometimes things happen not in the way that they want. Furthermore, another lesson I learned from this gothic story was that Baron Von Landshort wanted to marry his only daughter with a man who made part of a family that was at peace with them, and the daughter ends up marrying Herman Von Starkenfaust, belonging to one of the families of Baron Von hereditary feuds, which made this part of the story ironic. It made me think that their marriage unintentionally helped keep peace between two hostile families. In this story, Irving uses a Gothic farce to bring wayward lovers together.
ResponderEliminarI also loved this story because of the darkness of the romantic plot. it can be said that Irving's most renowned work is because no matter how much time has passed, it is still relevant in the universal narrative. However, I find it sad that few people know about it, read it and value it. Perhaps more readers around the world would read it if publishers or academics would study it and recommend it more.
ResponderEliminarBy: María José Contreras Lance
I'm my opinion in "The Spectre Bridegroom" Irving uses his usual style of dramatic irony to highlight what the author thought were dumb human failings and concludes on a cheerful note to urge his readers to unwind a little. Even the melancholy Starkenfaust learns to lighten up and enjoy life while he can; as Irving notes, upon his return with his new bride, his once dark eyes are now "riot with joy." The choleric baron learns to forgive pointless family feuds, the maiden aunts learn that their prudishness did little or no good for their ward, and that young love is probably safest when it is least regulated. Irving appears to be warning excessively protective parents - and aunts - to enjoy their children rather than smother them, even if his narrative closes in a typically upbeat attitude. We can understand the seriousness with which Irving took these lessons, especially when we consider the withering fate of delicate, wispy Matilda Hoffman, with whom Irving was making eye contact when she passed away.
ResponderEliminarThe specter Bridegroom is clearly influenced by the demon lovers, a subplot of the "Death and the Maiden" motif, that was a common
occurrence in folklore from Europe. These tales depict attractive, defenseless women who are abducted by rabid vampires, demons, or spirits. And where a alegory meant to shame sexually active women.
Washington Irving was a great American body of native literature from the United States. He was a man who achieved many goals in life. In particular, he was a famous essayist, singer, and lawyer, and he even was once the ambassador of the USA in Spain. Regarding the Bridegroom's specter story, I feel the need to comment that I just did not like the plot story. Even though the descriptions and details told throughout the story let you create a great representation of the settings and characters, there is no great mystery with the identity of the specter, since the beginning, it is obviously known that the fake bridegroom was the young count's friend.
ResponderEliminarOne of the things I found interesting in the story is that the morals, or social rules of the time are superfluous. How much time are you supposed to way until you marry your death friend bride?, or how much time you have to wait until you marry a man after your groom die?, these are good questions that help us understand how the morals were superfluous, the bride was not supposed or allowed to talk or even looked at men because of his chastity and reputation but in this “love story” it just took her a week to run with this stranger. Also, how this man lied and courted the bride without her family knowing and all of this was accepted at the end, because of the “power of the love”. In this order of ideas, this story is a great representation of how everything can be accepted in the “name of love”
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ResponderEliminarFrom my point of view, Washington Irving was a very talented man, an important essayist and writer during the Romantic era. Regarding his childhood, he came from a large family, he was the last of eleven children and throughout his life he lost 4 of his brothers and from an early age the family realized his interest in literature since instead of attending classes, he would sneak to the theater in the afternoon to witness the dramas and plays that he liked so much. He started writing letters to the New York Morning Chronicle when he was just 19 years old and he was good at criticizing the social problems that took place during that time.
ResponderEliminarSomething that I would like to highlighted about his writing style is that he liked to narrate fantasy stories, full of terror and suspense, with a gothic touch in which sometimes love prevailed, as in the case of "The specter of the Bridegroom" that Retells the story of the baron's daughter and her interest in a mysterious count who had been chosen to become her husband. However, then many unfortunate events occur and the story becomes a bit dark, but in the end everything becomes clear and she manages to be happy with her beloved.
I was very interested when I was reading the story and I would like to highlight an important aspect that I noticed, Irving included a footnote to the story's opening lines that its origins are French; Parisian to be exact. He hints at the existence of another story the reader may be familiar with, but does not give any identification. For what it's worth, it's curious that a tale based on a German work, set in Germany, and relayed by a Swiss traveler would have a connection to Paris.
ResponderEliminarAccording to my perspective, Irving employed dramatic irony to highlight what might be seen as human errors or misbehaviors since the story's end can be interpreted as a summary and a reflection of some of the characters' actions.
ResponderEliminarBesides that, Irving is recognized for his spooky settings and style in many of his writings. I don't think it fits in this instance, though. I think the story's premise fits into the humor genre and the gothic-styled location descriptions accompanying it.
From my view point, Washington Irving was a talented man to whom life gave him the opportunity for international renown as “the first American man of letters”; with the above I do not want to detract from the incredible work of the writer, only to emphasize that many talented writers like him came before and could not achieve such pride. Nevertheless, Irving knew how to take advantage of his opportunities and stood out from the rest, not only for his writing style but also for his themes.
ResponderEliminarRegarding the story “The spectre Bridegroom”, I do consider it is a weird love story disguised as a supernatural event to give a new perspective to the genre. The gothic style gives a different touch and traps the reader with its mysterious atmosphere. In addition, the characters present a certain complexity that keeps the reader's interest and often surprises, especially in the climax of the story.
It must be said, that Washington Irving was a writer who created for the first time the colloquial style in American literature. Irving was also a writer who made Americans laugh with caricatures that captured the reality of what was happening at the time. He was also an excellent representative of romanticism where he wrote multiple works in which the Spectral Bridegroom stands out, a story of love and ghosts in which I will give you my point of view.
ResponderEliminarUndoubtedly, when reading The Spectral Bridegroom by Washington Irving, there is a feeling of something unnatural and clearly captures the Gothic genre that Irving conveys in his story, perhaps because at that time horror stories were at their peak. The Spectral Bridegroom is a story, that is influenced by the old historical Germany taking that context to make it known to Americans, story that tells how the daughter of the baron had been involved since childhood with a young man who did not know, but he was the son of a friend of his father since then, from there gives hints that an old tradition of social class in which power was above love was handled. Then the fiancé of the baron's daughter is murdered, so his brother takes his role and marries his fiancée, from there from my point of view the story enters another scenario than that of love. It was no secret, to anyone that Hernan took advantage of the ghost stories to marry Hilda, and thus face all the misfortunes that were coming their way. At the end of the story, you can see how the writer gives us to understand that life, after all is clearly too short, and in the story it can be evidenced.
Washington Irving was a really interesting author since his childhood he showed what he will be. He was not good at school but he loved reading, writing and drawing. His favorite stories were related to goshes. The spectre of bridegroom was a good story, a little boring at the begging but then the mysterious caught my attention. I couldn't understand the situations with the Conde and his friend only until the end when I noticed too tha the barons' daughter got married sooner and to an unknown man.
ResponderEliminarI would qualify the story as silly, specially because of the lack of intelligence and the predominance of superstition of almost all the characters, as it was mentioned, it was a strange love which came out of nowhere and didn't make too much sense to me, however, I liked the atmosphere the story created and how it catches readers attention with the ghost thing and how the final plot twist ended a tale that despite that lack of intelligence of the characters, it does keep readers attention in almost the whole narrative.
ResponderEliminarFrom my point of view, the reading was not interesting and the more I read, the more I was bothered by the fact that the woman was minimized. I know it's because of the context, but I think the development at the end could have been better.
ResponderEliminarMaking comparisons in this novel in my opinion, there are several scenarios similar to hamlet, in that aspect on a spectrum, for this reason I expected the goblin to have a reason to stay on earth, I did not expect him to stay in the castle to meet the one who was going to be his future wife. I really hoped that he would go to the afterlife, and leave all his goods to the next heir. And the girl would continue her life, where this ghost of her past would only be a memory, and she would fight for an important position. Perhaps my ideal ending would have been for her not to marry or to keep the ghost's inheritance. Or perhaps, that there was a specific plan as to why it was necessary to pretend to be a spook.
Washington Irving is remembered for short stories such as "Rip Van Winkle" and "The Legend of the Sleepy Hollow". However, I think he also deserves some credit in this short story "The Spectre of the Bridegroom". In that sense I would like to point out how a phantasmal farce is used to bring two lovers together within the story and make the other characters switch their whole perspective. With this what I mean is that in the end the baron, for example, accepts the match, just because he is relieved that he is not a ghost. Even though he doesn't like his family, he just accepts it simply because his daughter wasn't kidnapped by a ghost. I also think the effort of the aunts with her niece is pointless because she defies them, something that was not taught by them. I think Irving deserves the recognition he got both in terms of fame and renown in Europe through his stories. It shows that he liked to read and write as it is stated in his biography. For what I think this is another of his works that is also nice to read if you want a simple story but with gothic elements and good scenery. Or even certain things that you can relate to other stories by other authors.
ResponderEliminarI personally think the "love at first sight" is very cliche since I started reading old works, but I like the use of this one in "The Spectre of the Bridegroom" because it adds mystery and has a spooky atmosphere, so you - as a reader - are not only focus in the love of the main characters, but also in their surroundings.
ResponderEliminarWashington Irving was a well-rounded American author. As the son of a wealthy Scottish merchant, he worked as a lawyer, businessman, great traveler, military officer, journalist, and American ambassador to Spain.
ResponderEliminarNow, my favorite character, as expected, was the amazing and highly relevant main female character who unfortunately goes unnamed for all of the story (as do other important female figures in history) and is mostly addressed as someone’s daughter and bride. But in my opinion, she is a great heroine of sorts. Why is this the case? Simply because she has a quick but powerful character ark. She transformed from a young lady that was raised to be the perfect bride, to a young woman that stands up for herself after finding the right motivation to do so.
Perhaps this is what connects her to the character of Juliet from Shakespeare’s play, as both youngsters step out of the cookie-cutter environment they grew up in to seek their own happiness. Something I like even more about her is that she returned to her people on her own terms, not to appease the situation, to back down, or to show she regretted her decision, but rather to let them know she managed to be just fine on her own terms without their intervention. After living in the shadows of others, she and her partner managed to make themselves the main characters of their own stories, and for that, I am impressed and pleased.
I will not deny I had hoped this story would fully be a “ghost story”, but I also was not let down by the plot twist; if anything, I was impressed by it. I came expecting a real specter terrorizing the characters, but I stayed for the light-hearted one-of-a-kind love of the unlikely characters.
The Spectre Bridegroom is a quick and witty but entertaining read for anyone who enjoys mildly spooky stories that are not too creepy or macabre.
In my opinion, Washington Irving was a talented man, and life gave him the opportunity to be recognized as " The First America Literary Man." Besides, I could say that Washington Irvin's style was a bit particular for his time, where the endings of his stories stand out and which is reflected in "The specter Bridegroom" where Irvin delights us with a cherry-mood ending, however, without lacking that hint of darkness, that is to say, the gothic elements.
ResponderEliminarWashington Irving who was mostly known for his short stories and the originality of his works and slowly gaining fame with his thoughts on literature. Washington, without being a scholar, offered a great quality in his art by him, this was one of the first prose writers of American letters, he was also the first to use humor, funny satire as a literary weapon. Irving revealed in details, liked descriptions, without the slightest fuss. Something that I would like to highlighted approximately his composing fashion is that he preferred to relate daydream stories, full of fear and tension, with a gothic touch in which sometimes love won, as within the case of "The specter of the Bridegroom". The end of this story seems to be a satire to the conceptions that society has, since the principles established by it are totally against what happened in history and despite this, it also has an excuse to justify the behaviors as the situation “demands”. Likewise, author Irving wanted to break the rules regarding traditions that limited people's free choices. As a result of his fighting him, I have achieved the goal. The achieved goal was described as a victory of love over the free choices of two free people over the old traditions transformed from generation to generation.
ResponderEliminarBY: Yeison Izquierdo
Considering all the information obtained from my research on the author Washington Irving, I could say that his work was exceptional. For people who enjoy the elements that were immersed in Irving's writing, each of the author's works could be considered a work of art. Now, if we talk in particular about the work, the specter bridegroom, in my opinion, I would not consider it one of his best works, since the fictitious and fanciful elements that were used there are not to my personal taste. However, it was a well-achieved literary work, and I repeat, for lovers of this genre, it is a good literary resource.
ResponderEliminarWashington Irwing set this story in a gothic Germany castle, interesting story but I can't be taken it as a horror story completely, although the baron mentions some horror story, this is based more on the love between two people. Now introducong aspect of the ambient in detail which is so good for catch the reader's attention and how the play develops the mysterious until that plot twist changing to an unexpected end. However, it would have been better if the creepy tone just keep the same. Anyway a nice short story.
ResponderEliminarThe book is good, even I found it difficult to read it, it could be because I like to read book in my free time, but in this semester, I have not had to free time, so that is why I did not enjoy it. However, the whole history itself is really good.
ResponderEliminarSomething I have to highlight is that the story is predictable, from the very beginning you already know what is going to happen. There is no twist, and I think is missing something unexpected.
by: Santiago Padilla Carrascal
I find interesting how authors have the hability to include many genre and writing styles in one text. Irving specially in this story (the spectre bridegroom made a mix of romance, horror and gothic that could sound something without coherence but when we read the story everything make sense. I was wondering what could happen if this story will have second part? The couple would be happy? Or the bride's father shall be crazy? Or what can think count's family about the marriage. I really would like to know what could happen next with this story.
ResponderEliminarAs we already know, Washington Irving was one of the most famous American authors of the nineteenth century, and something I want to highlight about him is that during his time in England, he read aloud literary works by famous poets and writers while admiring the scenery. Irving established a solid base for his creative works by considering the European culture and literature. Moreover, regarding the story "The specter bridegroom", it was not much of what I expected. I'm a fan of horror stories, and this one even entails a love story, but from the beginning it was a bit predictable everything that was going to happen and how the story would end, so it wasn't as interesting as I expected. However, it must be highlighted all the development of the story, which with its characters gave it a fascinating touch to it.
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ResponderEliminarI would say that the story is not at all cliché. I did not expect that some events ocurr, for example, when the Count died fighting some robbers or I could say the end itself. Although the story is a gothic one it ends with a romantic ending worthy of romance movies, i suppose.
ResponderEliminarFor me it stars as a dark story and ends up as a fairy tale.
For the last, I would rate this story a seven out of ten. I really enjoy the reading and the atmosphere that it created.
MARIA VICTORIA COTES ARROYO
I personally liked the book because it is one of my favorite genres that includes romance and supernatural, However I would have liked the ending if the ghost man had been real, besides it seemed a bit absurd and very rushed, regarding the intrinsic reflections that some of the characters had, for example the baron's personality hadn't let his daugther be married with a member whose family he had enmity, so things as forgiveness and start over, I don't buy it. Therefore the most attractive thing was the beginning and the development.
ResponderEliminarAbout the writer I liked the fact that he had to use a pseudonym for his works and to be recognized as someone talented and not because of his reputacion, since he was someone important by his family.
To me, Irving uses dramatic irony in "The Spectre Bridegroom" to highlight what he considers to be silly human flaws, resulting in a fantastic tale of dread, heroism, and true love.
ResponderEliminarWashington Irving is most known today for his amusing short stories about American history and society, he was a gifted fiction writer who was well-known in both America and Europe for his sense of humour and storytelling. The fact that he quit everything to pursue his dream of living of writing, is something that does not fail to impress me about his personna.
From my perspective, the story is more mysterious rather than something related to horror, I can also say that it gets close to the suspense genre. It is not entirely original, but it can be said that it is highly interesting, it can be found bravery, pride, loyalty, justice, love, etc.
ResponderEliminarA very outstanding part of the story is when the soldier gets to speak his mind and tell the truth to the people of the castle. At first, he was doubtful and unsure about showing the people his real identity, but he managed to pick up his courage and face the reality, he was not the count, he was not supposed to marry a gorgeous woman, he was not supposed to take his friend's place. Later on, he did the right thing.
Jennifer Ibáñez
Your description and interpretation of the story makes me agree in some points, specially about the descripción of the characters. Reading this I recalled what I first felt when I was reading the original story, with such detailed description of the scenarios and participants, I felt like reading again Dracula by Bram stoker. Personally I didn't like the transition from horror to romance-comedy, but again I understand it was wrote to entertain rather than scare.
ResponderEliminarI think Washington Irving did a great job of trying to entertain with this story. An excellent story with plot twists that keep the reader interested. It also introduces us, albeit unintentionally, to the situation at the time. The role of women, classism, and some others. I wasn't a big fan of the ending because I would have liked it to turn into a forbidden love story between a lost soul and the baron's daughter. overall, I give the story a 7/10 just for the ending but it was an interesting, cold, gothic, supernatural story with a touch of romance.
ResponderEliminarIn my opinion, I consider that Washington Irving has a very unique way of narrating that makes one as a reader feel hooked with the story to the point of imagining every scene and every detail of the characters such as their physical appearance, their personalities, etc. Also, I found the story "The Specter bridegroom" very interesting, in it I could perceive a variety of topics such us sexism, social differences, marriage of convenience, unrequited romance. Also, feelings such as tension, fear, emotion, sadness, nostalgia and melancholy.
ResponderEliminarFinally, it is a very short and easy to read story that made me doubt even of my own assumptions, it was very entertaining and I enjoyed every twist and turn of the narrative, I would definitely recommend it to anyone I could.
The story contains elements of both gothic and romantic stories (I suppose it could be called a Gothic Romance). However, upon reflection, I have decided that it’s actually more Romantic than it is Gothic. It’s more of a romantic tale because the hero relies more on his emotion than logic (he pursues the girl even though he knows they are from rival families), Starkenfaust uses his imagination to make it appear as though he is a ghost, and the daughter is freed from her oppressive aunts and father. This makes the story really entertaining, things that you thought would happen were totally different. There is no a real ghost, there is no a sad ending, hatred does not triumph over love; all these aspects make me love this story and believe that Irving is one of the best storyteller as it has been stated. We can only admire his works and learn from them.
ResponderEliminarThe implications of the time and location in which the story took place are so interesting to me especially because of the way it shaped the carachters, here I put what called my attention about some of them.
ResponderEliminarThe girl and the only child spected to be a prodigy, and such is only possible because the entire energy that is usually distributed to each child, when they are multiple, has been placed in only one.
I think that the aunts intentions for the girl to remain prude and to avoid men at all cost, were inteded to keep her away from inconvenient relationships. A well positioned suiter would ensure that such a high-class lady prospered in longebity. And if we study the way marrying determined the future of people, men and women requiring to meet certain standars in society , clearly justifies the strictness in which she was raised.
I also think that the tone the author used to describe the characters denoted how aware he was of them being their particular way, as well as the remarks being so obvious as to make it seem that it seemed ironic to him. Ofcourse, things are more obvious when observed from outside, in contrast with stories from the same epoch.
First I want to say that I was very surprised with this story by Washington Irvin because he seems to be a writer with a dark sense of humor according to my research, but this story really caught me from the first moment because of its good description and the ability to transport you to a fantasy universe in which you can really feel yourself in the medieval times and feel that you observe everything around you through the words of this narrator. The sequence can sometimes seem confusing but I feel that it is also Irvin's style, that style that takes you to the suspense and intrigue and makes you expectant for what could happen at the end.
ResponderEliminarThis story covers many themes, from the submissive role of women at the time to the importance of a good name and surname, it also has a touch of drama, suspense (something very typical of the gothic style).
Without a doubt, this is a relatively short story with a wide range of suspense that convinces you to want to keep reading. You might even think it's a weird "love" story but it's much more than that and it's worth a look to immerse yourself in that world.
- Adriana Palacios
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ResponderEliminarTalking with death
ResponderEliminarIt was 12:30, night dew was falling, and a couple of stars adorned the darkness of an imposing sky. I was hungry, tired, and in a bad mood. It wasn't a good day, and a desperate customer had just detonated the anger of a heavy and overwhelming day. I just wanted to get home, take a shower, heat up something in the microwave, and go to bed and sleep like a log. As all these thoughts flooded my mind, I felt a cold hand touching my shoulder. I was instantly scared. A thief had been stalking me, and what would become of me in this fearsome loneliness? That was all I could imagine. Fortunately, it was just a somewhat pale and strange-looking old man; dark circles under his eyes that clearly showed days and nights of insomnia, and a pallor that matched the color of the moon on that September 25th. In his right hand, he held a leash, and next to it, a beautiful puppy with blue eyes and dark spots. The speed of my life and the agony of getting home only allowed me to ask him what he was doing at such late hours in such a lonely neighborhood. Wasn't he cold? To which his mouth could only utter the following words: "I'm looking for my daughter, she went out a while ago and hasn't come back yet. I'm worried, and I miss her a lot. And Max is helping me look for her, that's my dog." At the same time, his long and bony finger pointed at me: "I live in that house!" He pointed to mine. Perhaps he had memory problems, I thought, and he was lost while his family searched for him. Or maybe his daughter had gone out partying and had told him to wait to be safer. I didn't give it any more importance, I just wished him good night and reminded him to be careful on those streets. He smiled at me as he said, "Thank you!"
"It was one o'clock when I arrived home. The first thing I did was turn on the heating. I couldn't understand why I felt like I was in an imaginary freezer. While I was warming up, I turned on the oven and heated up some pasta. I went to the fridge and took out a bottle of wine, but I had forgotten that the bottle opener was in the attic. I cursed furiously, but went upstairs to get it. As I approached the useful objects stored there, my feet stumbled upon a huge box. It was filled with pictures of a girl and a beautiful, slightly older woman, but with a charming sparkle. At the bottom, there was an old newspaper clipping with a headline that read as follows:"
"September 25th. 55-year-old man commits suicide with his dog after his wife and daughter lose their lives in a tragic accident. The incident occurred in the Masachuttes neighborhood, house diagonally numbered 20." I threw the newspaper as far as I could. It was my house and it was that man!"
By: Maria Alejandra Cuadrado Santamaría
I think "The Specter Bridegroom" by Washington Irving is a captivating and entertaining story that combines elements of the supernatural, romance, and humor. Irving's skillful storytelling draws readers into a world of mystery and suspense, where the boundaries between the living and the dead are blurred. The characters, including the stern Baron Von Landshort, the charming Count Von Altenburg, and the superstitious aunts, are vividly portrayed and add depth to the narrative.In conclusion, "The Specter Bridegroom" is a well-crafted and thought-provoking story that showcases Washington Irving's storytelling prowess and his ability to blend different literary elements to create an engaging and memorable tale.
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ResponderEliminarThe Spectre Bridegroom' by Washington Irving stands as a captivating tale that seamlessly intertwines elements of love, tragedy, and the supernatural. The characters, with their distinctive traits and moral dilemmas, come alive within the narrative, engaging readers with their struggles and aspirations. Irving's masterful storytelling, rich in symbolism and depth, leaves an indelible impression, evoking contemplation on the interplay between the living and the supernatural. As a blend of romantic and Gothic elements, the story weaves a mesmerizing web that endures through time, inviting readers to ponder the enigmatic realms of the human psyche and the eternal allure of the supernatural.
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ResponderEliminarIn "The Specter Bridegroom," Irving explores love and destiny within a medieval castle, using symbolism and a mix of romance and Gothic elements. Characters grapple with conflicts against a backdrop of mystery, shaping their behavior in response to the supernatural.
ResponderEliminarIn conclusion, "The Specter Bridegroom" showcases Washington Irving's unique blend of humor and the supernatural. It exemplifies his ability to infuse even the most ghostly tales with wit and satire. By incorporating these elements, Irving creates an engaging story that leaves readers both entertained and contemplative about the enduring power of the past.
ResponderEliminarMaría Alexandra Rhenals
"The Spectre Bridegroom" weaves a tale where the manipulation of superstitious and religious beliefs is central to the plot. The cavalier exploits these fears to achieve sinister goals, mirroring real-world instances of individuals leveraging such beliefs for personal gain. The story's trajectory from mysterious anticipation to an unexpected resolution adds intrigue, with potential for a more overtly Gothic ending. Marriages of convenience and parental roles in matrimony are explored, reflecting societal norms of the time. While contemporary society emphasizes individual autonomy, some cultures still adhere to traditions where parents dictate marital choices. Irving's narrative prompts reflection on the enduring influence of superstitions, the complexities of human relationships, and the evolving dynamics of societal norms.
ResponderEliminarAmy Buelvas Gutiérrez
In the 19th century, marriages of convenience were common, arranged by parents for financial and social stability, with little emphasis on romantic love. Today, parental involvement in arranging marriages has decreased significantly, and individuals have more autonomy in choosing partners based on personal compatibility and affection. While arranged marriages still exist, they've evolved to include more input from the individuals involved, with parents suggesting potential partners but the final decision often made by the individuals themselves.
ResponderEliminarDaniela Morelo Cabrales
Washington Irving’s “The Spectre Bridegroom” masterfully navigates the complex interplay of love, societal norms, and the appeal of the supernatural. While on the surface it appears to be a gothic romance, a deeper exploration reveals Irving's critique of societal conventions and the transformative nature of love. Like many of his tales, it stands as a testament to Irving's genius - his ability to craft narratives that resonate with readers across ages, challenging them to reflect upon their own societal constructs and beliefs. In the dance of love and deception within the story, we see mirrored our own struggles, hopes, and desires, making “The Spectre Bridegroom” a timeless tale that continues to captivate and inspire.
ResponderEliminarAriel Monterrosa
EliminarThe Spectre Bridegroom by Washington Irving left a profound impact on me. The story beautifully weaves the themes of love and the supernatural, reminding us that love can transcend the boundaries of life and death. The character of Elise's unwavering commitment to her beloved reflects the incredible depths of human emotion and the lengths we'd go to for those we cherish. The vividly described setting, the decaying castle on the Rhine River, added an enchanting and eerie atmosphere that enriched the plot, highlighting the significance of a well-crafted setting in storytelling. Additionally, the presence of the Spectre Bridegroom introduced an element of suspense and mystery, underscoring the enduring appeal of ghostly tales. It serves as a reminder of the enduring power of great storytelling, transcending the boundaries of time, much like love itself. This tale leaves us pondering the boundaries of love and the lasting influence of well-crafted Gothic literature. I am grateful for the opportunity to explore and reflect upon this captivating story, which continues to resonate with readers, just as it did in its own time.
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ResponderEliminarThe Spectre of the Bridegroom by Washington Irving is a satirical ,gothic, and almost a comic tale that dives into societal norms and expectations, particularly in the context of marriage. The story highlights the issue of gender roles and societal pressures placed on women during the 19th century, emphasizing the limited choices and lack of agency they had in matters of love and marriage. Through humor and satire, Irving critiques the absurdity of these conventions, shedding light on the social injustice of restricting individuals' freedoms based on their gender and the expectations placed upon them. This serves as a reflection of the social justice concerns of the time and encourages readers to question and challenge these norms.
ResponderEliminarBased on the reading, I could say that an intertextuality between “Romeo and Juliet” story and “the Spectre Bridegroom '' story exists. The stories are related because the general topic of both is “love”, and they show how even under hard situations and prohibitions (due to power and the prominence of death), a couple looks for and finds the way of living its love, however, the end of these stories differ. In Romeo and Juliet’s story, the main characters decided to commit suicide maybe because they think that in another live they could love each other without prejudices or limitations; In contrast, in the spectre bridegroom’s story, after living its love secretly, the couple decided to run away and return just to announce that they will get married, not matter if the princess’ father were in agreement with that or not.
ResponderEliminarOn the other hand, I could recognize a gender violation in both stories because the role of women is drawn by a prejudice that places them just as wives and mothers. The instruction that was given to them, just revolves around the materialization of skills related to tapestry, cooking, taking care of, and things like these. Additionally, in both stories, women are seen or considered as incapable individuals, that means, as if they aren’t able to make decisions related to choosing their husband, for example.
The Spectre Bridegroom by Washington Irving, though is not directly addressing social justice, offers insights into traditional gender roles and societal pressures of its era, especially concerning arranged marriages. It humorously portrays the challenges individuals faced when trying to navigate or evade these expectations if their parents or culture.
ResponderEliminarIn contrast, Romeo and Juliet is a tragedy that delves into themes of love, family conflicts, and the consequences of societal norms. It illustrates how societal divisions and prejudices can lead to tragic outcomes when love defies these boundaries.
When comparing these stories society to today's one, we observe significant differences. Modern society places greater emphasis on personal choice in matters of love and marriage. Arranged marriages are less prevalent, and societal norms regarding relationships have evolved. Nonetheless, discussions about social justice, including gender equality, LGBTQ+ rights, and racial equity, remain relevant and pressing issues.
Both stories talla about the dynamics of arranged marriages during their respective time periods, reflecting a society where parental authority and societal expectations played a significant role in determining one's life partner. Arranged marriages were often used to solidify family alliances, and the tale underscores the deep conflicts and consequences that could arise when personal love conflicted with these arrangementd.
EliminarThe Spectre Bridegroom is one of Washington Irving's best-known works. It is a story that grabs us, but at the end it gives us another twist. It gives us the illusion that it will be a horror story, but it ends up being quite the opposite. His story is a masterfully crafted piece of Gothic literature. It is full of suspense, atmosphere, and humor.
ResponderEliminarThis story explores a number of themes, including love, loss, and the nature of reality, but also explores one social injustice issue: gender inequality. The protagonist is a woman who is expected to marry a man of her father's choosing, even though she does not love him. She is not allowed to have her own opinion on the matter, and she is treated as property by her father. The story shows us a society where women are seen as women to be at home, to marry and raise a family,
This example of gender inequality is a common theme in many works of literature from the time period in which it was written. However, it is still relevant today, as there are still many places in the world where women are not treated equally to men, and there are people that still idealise them.
From my point of view, social justice is reflected in several aspects in Irving's writing "The Spectre Bridegroom" and Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet". First of all we have the gender issue in which women were depicted as passive and vulnerable just waiting for their male counterparts; Juliet's role as a young woman is central to the plot, and the expectations placed on her are indicative of the limited rights of women in that time.
ResponderEliminarAdditionally, we have the education field in which women were seen as the ones that receive education at home and it was only to be prepared to be a wife, this can be read in both stories. Similarly, the mariage was forced for these ladies, in the way their parents chose their partners, which can be considered a violation of personal rights.
Age has also a role in the story of Romeo and Juliet, as they were pretty young and their decisions were heavily influenced by their families and the economic impact. This can be related to Irving's writing due to the role of wealthy families that had the money to own lands and the economical income they had to keep their social status. In this sense, it leads to social class division and the influence of wealth.
I want to rescue two symbols from the story "the spectre bridegroom" that also tells us about intertextuality. First, midnight. In this story as in most Gothic stories, midnight is considered the time when bad things happen. For example, in the mask of the red death, at this time the unexpected guest arrived and killed Prospero and his pack. Similarly, in Irving's story, at this time the specter left the castle telling the truth, and on the second night, at the same time, the young princess heard a soft melody in the garden and met the Specter Bridegroom again.
ResponderEliminarSecond, superstitious elements. The story presents several events that generate mystery and fear in the characters. From my personal point of view, superstitions are used in the story and in real life as a very good way to control others or make them do what we want. It's about generating a fear in them that can be avoided precisely with what we propose or ask.
From my point of view, social justice can be noticed in the story of the Spectre Bridegroom, specifically the gender issue as in the case of the baron's daughter, since the bride's aunts play an important role because it highlights the inequality of the genre. It means that they only focus on preparing the young maiden for marriage, and to be a good wife. In which this emphasizes traditional gender roles that limit women's opportunities beyond domestic tasks, therefore, restricting their personal and educational growth.
ResponderEliminarI consider that both in the story "Romeo and Juliet" and in the story "The Specter Bridegroom" there are violations of social justice in gender and social stratum. Regarding gender, both stories discriminate against women, since the opinions or decisions of Juliet and the baron's daughter were not respected. They were manipulated by their parents and forced to marry someone they did not love, however, they did not obey these orders. Her duties were to take care of her husband, children and do household chores. As for the social stratum, both stories give more importance to the upper class than to the others. This situation is reflected when the parents of the beautiful protagonists wish to marry them to rich and powerful men in order to preserve wealth and social class.
ResponderEliminarFollowing cultural norms and her father's instructions, The Baron's
ResponderEliminarDaughter is initially perceived as submissive and resigned to her lot. Her
steadfast pursuit of the truth and her high moral standards are made clear as the
plot develops. The Specter Bridegroom is a crafty and clever individual who is
willing to deceive people in order to further his goals. He is described as a
brilliant actor who exploits superstitions and religious convictions for his own
gain. The story also shows different critical conflicts, such as Moral Conflict when
Specter Bridegroom's deception and manipulation are at the focus of the moral
conflict, which raises concerns about the propriety of his conduct and the
repercussions of lying. Moreover, the emotional conflict by the Baron's daughter's
internal dilemma about the possibility of getting married to a specter and the
subsequent admission of the truth.
Finally, the supernatural is another major subject. Irving skillfully blurs the
lines between the natural and supernatural realms, producing a mystifying and
intriguing ambiance. Inviting readers to consider the existence of the unknown
and the supernatural powers that might have an impact on our lives, the
presence of the spectral bridegroom questions accepted beliefs. The text also
explores people's everlasting obsession with the enigmatic and the inexplicable.
A monument to humanity's everlasting interest in the mysterious parts of
existence is Gottfried's relentless search for the truth and the scary legends
surrounding the castle.
The Spectre Bridegroom" presents a gothic exploration of disrupted love and the supernatural, offering a stark contrast to contemporary values of personal choice in relationships. It remains an enduring example of the genre's ability to captivate and provoke thought, showcasing the timeless allure of eerie and mysterious narratives. In the story, the parents, particularly Baron Von Landshort, played a significant role in orchestrating the marriage between his daughter and the young count. The Baron arranged the marriage with the goal of securing Count's fortune and social standing for his daughter, Annette. The responsibility of parents in such arrangements was to ensure that the marriage served the family's interests, including matters of inheritance, wealth, and social standing. In many cases during the 19th century, individual desires and feelings were secondary to these practical considerations.
Eliminar"Romeo and Juliet" by William Shakespeare and "The Specter Bridegroom" by Washington Irving share similarities and differences. Both narratives delve into the theme of forbidden love, leading to tragic outcomes. In "Romeo and Juliet," the forbidden love arises from the feud between their families, culminating in the untimely deaths of the young lovers. Conversely, in "The Specter Bridegroom," an unconventional love story unfolds, obstructed by societal norms and culminating in a haunting conclusion. While both stories involve themes of deception and misidentity, they diverge in setting and genre; "Romeo and Juliet" is a classic tragedy set in Renaissance Italy, while "The Specter Bridegroom" is a Gothic tale with supernatural elements, set in a different time and place, creating distinct atmospheres in each narrative.
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