58 pages • 1-hour read
Gothikana
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Symbols & Motifs
Verenmore
The University of Verenmore includes the castle and the mountain, both of which serve as shifting symbols that reflect the mysterious, ever-changing atmosphere of the novel. When Corvina first arrives at the castle, she sees it as a marvel, something that reflects her optimism about a new future away from the judgmental village in which she was raised. As she learns more about the mysterious deaths and worries about her mental health, the castle becomes a symbol of dread. It is only when Corvina has her “happy ending” with Vad that the castle becomes once again a positive force, even though not all of the castle’s mysteries have been solved. Since Corvina is happy, the castle seems, to her, a potentially happy place—one where building a family legacy is a positive thing, not a dangerous one.
The castle and mountain also fulfill many of the conventions of a gothic setting, as it is a remote location, far from the reaches of modern civilization. There is no internet or phone access in the castle; the paths are poorly lit and difficult to traverse. In addition to being atop a mountain, the castle is surrounded by a mysterious, dense forest that is the site of many legends—only some of which are solved by the end of the novel. The name Verenmore is also an allusion to “nevermore,” the repeated cry from Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Raven,” and is therefore named to remind readers of the novel’s long connection to gothic literature.
Silver and Purple Eyes
Corvina and Vad both have unusual eyes, which become important symbols in the text. Corvina has spent her childhood being teased for her purple eyes, which leaves her self-conscious about them. Vad does not show any evidence of connecting his self-worth or self-image to his eye color, though his silver eyes have led him to be nicknamed the “silver-eyed devil of Verenmore.” Both Vad’s eyes and his status as a “devil” are nods to his attractiveness, which garners him widespread interest among the students.
In the broader history of gothic literature, unique eyes represent emotional turmoil or unruliness in a character. Vad’s name, which means “untamed,” echoes this trope. His silver eyes represent his emotional excess, which largely gets channeled into his intense desire for, and possessiveness around, Corvina. Corvina’s eyes put her into a “chosen one” role. When Vad is a child, a mystical old woman at the boys’ home predicts that finding “purple eyes” will embroil him in a life-or-death plot. His connection with Corvina is framed as being an element of fate that is preordained, contributing to the possible supernatural influences on the plot.
Ravens and Crows
Ravens and crows are common motifs in gothic literature, often presaging death or danger. In Gothikana, this trope is inverted, as crows prove useful and well-intentioned allies to Corvina. She makes a point of befriending the crows that live in the woods surrounding Verenmore, and they provide comfort and aid when she searches for Roy in the novel’s climax.
Crows also represent Corvina herself, as her name comes from “corvid,” the family of birds that include both crows and ravens. This, in a traditional gothic representation, might foreshadow that Corvina is slated to die at the end of the novel, although this is ultimately not the case. Corvina notes that her mother named her after “The Raven,” the same Edgar Allan Poe poem that gives Verenmore its name. This allusion notes that Corvina’s connection to the gothic genre predates her arrival at Verenmore, dating back to her birth.
Ravens also recur in the novel’s visual elements: Many of the chapters show variations on the same image of a raven flying in front of a full moon, though there is no clear delineation between the content of chapters that do have this image and those that do not.
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