Three elements of gothic literature that mirror the situation of women in the late 19th and eary 20th centuries (and, one could argue, nowadays) are: 1) characters’ inability to control their fates. Protagonists of gothic tales are usually subject to forces beyond their control, much like women are subject to male dominance in society. 2) high emotions experienced by characters suffering from a sense of doom. Since women often could not control their own lives, their emotions were the only thing they had. 3) women threatened by powerful males. Such was the day to day reality for most women back then.