The Enormous Radio can be considered gothic because instead of listening to normal music from the radio, the Westcotts discover that they are listening to the conversations and arguments of their neighbours. They seem to invade others’ privacy so often, which isn’t very normal or okay. And at the end of the story, Jim reveals that Irene is a thief. And since the radio is working again, Irene is trying so hard to find a station where she can hear the neighbors’ conversations.The radio seems to have become the most important thing in Irene’s life. Irene’s behavior is irrational. Irene also seems to focus on negativity and believes that most people are evil. This kind of behavior and thinking is normal for gothic literature.
One reason why “The Enormous Radio” cannot be called Gothic is because the lack of extreme terror or gory behavior . First of all, the setting is not gothic at all. Jim and Irene live in an apartment in a large building. A story that is labeled gothic is usually set in eerie or sinful places like old houses,,and maybe even a dark room. Nothing tragic happens to any of the main characters, Irene and her husband. There are no unusual events that frightens or enthrall the reader.
