Monika Mezyk

Monika Mezyk

In Ann Radcliffe's "The Italian", the very first thing that we see

described is a veiled woman:

"It was in the church of San Lorenzo at Naples, in the year 1758, that

Vincentio di Vivaldi first saw Ellena di Rosalba. The sweetness and fine

expression of her voice attracted his attention to her figure, which had a

distinguished air of delicacy and grace; but her face was concealed in her

veil. So much was he fascinated by the voice, that a most painful curiosity

was excited as to her countenance, which he fancied must express all the

sensibility of character that the modulation of her tones indicated" (5).

Even without knowing anything about Gothic elements, this indicates very

clearly what the quality and tone of the book are going to be like.

Vivaldi's pursuit of the veiled woman is a signal that his is the pursuit of

the mysterious, with the certainty that it will be beautiful. This certainly

does seem to be a great fascination in the novel; it is a component and

often a catalyst for that anxiety which runs throughout.

It is this anxiety which causes the heightening of our emotions; our

emotions are heightened as we watch the characters' pursuit of the

mysterious; and our curiosity is excited more and more until we are nearly

begging for its gratification. But Radcliffe heightens our emotions without

satisfying our curiosity, or at least not enough. For example, the very

first chapter establishes a sense of myste...

Monika Mezyk

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