The story “The Enormous Radio” can be viewed as gothic for a couple of reasons. The main reasons is how there are some gothic actions and emotions throughout the story. Irene realizes that the radio her husband Jim bought her can actually hear into other peoples apartments. Throughout the story she starts eves dropping more and more into the other neighbors apartments. She does it so often that it starts making her more and more sad and depressed. Even though she knows she shouldn’t and that’s it’s wrong to listen in on other peoples lives without permission, she still does it even after her husband told her not to. The radio itself can even be viewed as a sort of plot point, the point being that it’s a trap. Ever since the radio came into their lives, it’s caused more problems between the two. Later on in the story we find out that one of their neighbors, Mr. Osborn was beating his wife and can be heard through the radio. That whole scene was quite suspenseful as it happened quite suddenly. Not only that but it’s based off of a real sensitive topic, domestic violence. The biggest shock in my opinion is when Jim completely loses it and goes off on Irene at the end. It came as a surprise and the whole ending was quite suspenseful and chaotic. Not only that but he was completely degrading her by bringing up all the horrible things she’s done in the past. From not giving her own sister part of their mother’s will to even having an abortion. Trying to prove that she’s not as nice and innocent as she thinks she is. With all of these gothic elements, actions and emotions, I think this story can very well be classified as gothic.

Although this story can be seen as gothic, it can also be argued that it’s not. For starters, the setting isn’t close to being gothic at all. Jim and Irene live in an apartment of a big building. And although their described as average people it’s safe they’re good with money since they have a maid and handyman. Nothing in the apartment gives off any cryptic or unsettling vibes. There’s also not a lot of super strong gothic emotions like terror, extreme fear, nightmares, death, madness. Someone could read this story and not think much of it or feel any of these emotions at all. It’s only until the very end when we start getting some emotions from the characters.