Is Gothic literature dead?

[Desdemona]

As others have pointed out, it might be due to the fear that the book might not sell if it was associated with the trash labelled "Gothic" back in the days when they were overabundant. However, I hoped that the true Gothic lovers would provide the demand for good, well-written Gothics. I'm waiting to see gothic romances become a definite genre again.

I think that Gothic romances as a genre have morphed into paranormal romance or romantic suspense. At the risk of being controversial, I would say that part of the problem with the marketability of the traditional Gothic is the portrayal of women. The traditional Gothic heroine is the naive, virginal young woman who falls in love with the dominant, older alpha male. The independent woman is usually the villain who went crazy or the oversexed villain who is morally corrupt.

There are exceptions of course. I find that Jane Eyre is far more relevant to me in this century than the narrator in Rebecca, even though Rebecca's narrator is the one who could actually vote. But I think that the traditional Gothic would have to reinvent itself for a reading audience that wants a more proactive, independent, confident woman (of any age!) who takes action instead of being acted upon.

Just my honest opinion.