Cathartic Paths of the Gothic in Ciemno, prawie noc by Joanna Bator

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to investigate how the Gothic is employed in Joanna Bator’s novel Ciemno, prawie noc [Dark, Almost Night]. I frame my analysis on the author’s assertion that “Poland is a horror,” exploring firstly how the Gothic serves as an aesthetic framework that intertwines different time periods and family histories within the narrative. Secondly, I examine its role in grounding these temporal layers within the specific geographical location of Wałbrzych, which itself assumes a villain-like presence in the novel. I argue that Bator adapts the Gothic tradition for cathartic purposes, particularly in narrating transgenerational traumas. This approach enables the expression and understanding of a fractured past, potentially fostering a process of healing.