In school, I quite liked the Gothic novel. I like a lot of old literature, but the Gothic is something that has always drawn me in despite my abhorrent feelings towards horror. 

As a work, the Gothic is “characterized by mystery, horror, and the supernatural. Often you find haunted castles or mansions with secret passageways, grisly visions by frightened individuals, or some supernatural paraphernalia seen most often in tales of terror” (Morner and Rausch 93). True to the Gothic form, you can find these terrifying places to be shrouded in a mystery. The tone or atmosphere is brooding, and yet–despite that–you may also find a love story, a tragedy, or something equally sublime. Sublime, by the way, in the literary sense meaning that, while it is often associated with grandeur, it could instead refer to the grotesque or another extraordinary experience that takes someone beyond themselves emotionally.

The concept of the sublime encompasses the dual themes of beauty and terror that are central to Gothic works. The sublime refers to a sense of awe or reverence inspired by something that is grand, majestic, or awe-inspiring but also frightening or even terrifying. This duality of emotions is a key element in Gothic literature, which often explores the dark, mysterious, and supernatural while also highlighting the beauty and wonder of the unknown. The sublime helps to create a sense of contrast and tension in Gothic works, as the reader is drawn in by the beauty of the strange and unfamiliar, even as they are repelled by its terror. By incorporating elements of the sublime, Gothic writers are able to engage their readers on a deeper emotional level and create a lasting impact that transcends the boundaries of the text.

Rather than the sublime being used to define a Gothic, I find that many think of the Gothic aesthetic when one mentions it. When thinking of Gothic anime, titles such as Gosick, Rozen Maiden, or The Mystic Archives of Dantalian may come to mind, but I don’t know if I would consider the stories themselves to be Gothic tales, despite the settings and character design. Even Kuroshitsuji, or Black Butler, a manga set in Victorian England that incorporates Gothic elements into its storytelling by having dark imagery and supernatural elements often fails to meet that quality and necessity of the sublime in terms of story. At least, that was until I reached the Phantomhive Manor Murders Arc.

In a quick recap, the arc goes from Volumes 9–11 (or, Chapters 38–50 if you prefer). It is told from the perspective of a poor and struggling writer whose name, Arthur Conan Doyle, comes from the famous author of Sherlock Holmes. True to the name of its central character, the arc has our young Sherlockian author placed amidst a party of potential murders as he, along with the other Phantomhive servants and guests, attempts solve the mysterious deaths happening within the Manor.

For those new to Black Butler or needing a refresher, the main storyline follows Ciel Phantomhive, a young noble who has made a contract with a demon butler named Sebastian Michaelis to help him exact revenge on those who have wronged him.

Of all the story arcs that the creator(s) behind Kuroshitsuji have done, this is perhaps the truest to the Gothic ideas of literature. It incorporates supernatural elements and Gothic aesthetics, but what makes it stand out is the sublime nature of the opposing beauty of the Manor and the grotesqueness of the murders taking place. The Gothic atmosphere is further reinforced by the series’ visual style, which includes dark, brooding characters and settings, as well as intricate, macabre costumes. Unlike other arcs, the Phantomhive Manor Murders Arc truly captures the essence of the gothic form. This arc gave me chills and had me on the edge of my seat, waiting for the next volume.

While many works utilize Gothic aesthetics, few capture the Gothic literary form, as well as the Phantomhive Manor Murders Arc in Kuroshitsuji. It embodies the Gothic’s requirement for the sublime in storytelling and captures the essence of the genre in a truly haunting way.

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Copyedited by: Katherine Cañeba | @kcserinlee

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NTC’s Dictionary of Literary Terms by Kathleen Morner and Ralph Rausch – https://www.amazon.com/Dictionary-Literary-Terms-Kathleen-Morner/dp/0844254649