Essay Example on Gordon Gregg's Thrilling Saga of Love and Slaughter

Introduction

The renowned thrilling novel, written by Robert Bloch, revolves around the main character, Gordon Gregg. The story illustrates how Gregg (based on a true story on a real-life serial killer named H.H. Homes), loves to prey on attractive young women. He uses his charms and takes them to his castle, where a secret chamber is located and used as the slaughterhouse for his victims. However, his fate and thirst for blood are to be short-lived as Crystal. A Chicago journalist begins to suspect his ill intentions. In a slight twist of events, the two become emotionally attracted to each other. Her hunches are solidly backed by her boss Charlie Hogan who backs her theory and vows to explore it further. The revelation of his true identity is intensified when Crystal gets hired as Gregg's secretary (Lloyd-Smith and Allan 5). It is in this position that she gathers compelling clues left behind by Gregg that move to persuade her initial instincts further. Both Hogan and crystal find their way into the castle and Hogan stumbles into the abysmal laboratory used by Gregg to slay his victims. However, Hogan is attacked by Gregg and gets knocked down, rendering him unconscious.

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Meanwhile, crystal manages to find a secret entrance into the laboratory but is unfortunately confronted by Greg and attacked. Luckily, with Hogan gaining consciousness, the two manage to work together and fight Gregg off, with Hogan smearing acid on Gregg. Vowing to go down un-arrested, Gregg impales himself with a scalpel, fatally injuring himself. Both Crystal and Hogan manage to escape leaving a burning castle behind them. The two proclaim feelings for each other, in a dazzling ending to an eventful Novel. Therefore, this essay is going to look into specific events illustrating the theme of illusion versus reality.

The Theme of Illusion versus Reality

Bloch, through the American Gothic, has perfected the art of crafting illusion into reality, to the extent of the audience barely knowing where to draw the line. As he mentions after this novel, the story is based on a true story under one H.H. Holmes (Simpson). It would have been not very easy to believe that none of the elements portrayed in the story happened due to their level of absurdness. Bloch emphasizes further that the private life lived by Homes is even more sinister than the one depicted in the novel. The unique way in which the story is written (simple vocabulary and short chapters) bring out the intriguing uniqueness in which Bloch uses to defy the reasonable odds of leaning into either reality or fiction. With reports indicating that the body count of the murders in the castle being more than two hundred, it would be justifiable to conclude that sometimes the truth can be stranger than the reality (Simpson).

Application of the Theme of Illusion versus Reality

Firstly, the tales of romance between Gregg and his many compatriots bring the attention of naivety, and the phrase appearances can be deceptive. Bloch presents Gregg as a handsome, charming and charismatic man. It is these elements that easily attract the ladies. However, a gap between reality and physical appearance engulfs the victims. Deep down, Gregg is a cold-blooded serial killer whose main intentions are to torture, maim and kill his victims. He is always careful to cover up his horrendous acts, never leaving any traces behind (Crow 10). It is only until discoveries are made of human remains are found in bell jars inside his castle that the truth and the man behind the mask are revealed.

Additionally, the humongous castle owned by Gregg also creates a situation of illusion versus reality. The three-storied castle is erected in a corner street in Chicago, beauty, and the new form of advanced housing construction at the time. Bloch describes it as an aiding tool to Greggs preys as it makes it luring easy for him. However, the features inside the castle are what make this place startling and an embodiment of monstrosity, totally different from how outsiders depict it. The castle possesses secret horror chambers that Gregg uses to kill his victims. He uses a narrow chute to drop down his victims inside the cellar room. It is at this point that Gregg disposes of his victims accordingly as the discretion of the outside world. The castle is also built with many trap doors and secret rooms that are all used to his advantage.

Chauvinism is also portrayed in the character of Jim, showing how his illusion of how a woman should behave and what depicts a perfect woman. This is seen when Jim believes he is in a position to use his position to persuade Crystal to fall in love with her. She also believes she can persuade her to quit her job and be his housewife for him. However, Crystal is well aware of his chauvinistic nature, and she rejects, opposing how Jim sees views a woman's place in society.

Conclusion

In conclusion, is illustrated above, Robert Bloch brings out the contradiction of illusion versus reality with perfect precision and a wide range of creativity. His wit and prowess act as glitz to the average eye, leaving the characters and readers as well as oblivion of the real situation at hand. The charismatic and charming effect possessed by Gregg, the dazzling three-story castle erected at Chicago corner, and the Chauvinistic perception of women all show how the truth cannot be compared to the reality, nor the vice versa.

Works Cited

Crow, Charles L., Ed. A companion to American gothic. John Wiley & Sons, 2013.

Lloyd-Smith, Allan. American gothic fiction: An introduction. Bloomsbury Publishing USA, 2004.

Simpson, Philip L. "Robert Bloch and His Serial Killers." The Man Who Collected Psychos: Critical Essays on Robert Bloch (2009): 150.