"The Outsider" (Narrative Convention)

"The Outsider", by H.P. Lovecraft is a perfect example of what gothic fiction is all about. The story starts off with the narrator suffering from complete isolation. He has resided in the castle for many unknown years, and does not recall any form of contact with another being. However, he assumes that someone, at some point in time, did care for him. Unfortunately, he does not know when he was born, or even how long he has been living in the decaying castle that is located in the natural wilderness. He wastes his days away by creating another life in his mind from the mouldy books he reads. The narrator is constantly questioning his identity, and just cannot find any peace of mind because of all the secrets that surround his past life. Then, he finally reaches his breaking point, and escapes the castle to discover the mysterious other, or light. After he climbs out of the home, the "purest ecstasy" that he ever knew shined brightly in the night sky was "the radiant full moon". He starts to wonder around for about two hours in search of more light. While on his journey, some memory starts to develop again, but is still coming out fuzzy in his mind. He finally reaches his "goal", which is a castle that is "maddening familiar", and strange to the character. He witnesses the aesthetic of sublime, when he saw the people outside. Their language, and looks were very awe-like to the narrator. However, the deviant aspect comes into play, when he joins the party. The people inside are terrified of him, and is trying to escape. He sees a creature that "is not of this world-or no longer of this world". The subjective and objective view points shows in this scene. The narrator realizes the truth when he presses his fingertips against "the polished glass" and comprehends that the scary creature is his reflection. He escaped to go back to his home, but could not get in. The main character did not mind one bit because he can now ride with the "friendly ghouls", and accept his "new wilderness and freedom". Even if alienage is part of it. He claims that nepenthe, which is "anything that induces a pleasurable sensation of forgetfulness. epically anything that causes trouble" to help him calm down. He now finally understands the truth that he is and always will be an outsider.
For the story, I will use the convention called characterization. Characterization is a way for the writer to "develop a character"; For instance, by appearance, actions, language, thoughts, and thorugh other people's reactions. It is easy to see from the beginning that the character is ignorant of everything about himself. He does not even know that he is looking at his own decaying, frightening reflection in the mirror at the end of the story. We do, however, see how his thought process changes in the story. In the beginning, he wonders what "the other" is exactly. It reaches to a point where he leaves his comfort zone, instead of wondering around, and dreaming about another life. He becomes brave, and ventures out to find more light. The narrator does find the moon light fasinacting, but needs more, which is at another castle. Sad to say, he sees that his appearance or form of existence, a ghost, to be unwelcoming by the mortals. Now he is worse off then before because he understands why he is alienated. He comes to terms with the facts by bothering with others of his kind, and finds ways of suppressing the loneliness. His mind finally gains knowledge of what he truly is as a being, the "outsider".

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/nepenthe
http://www.tnellen.com/cybereng/lit_terms/characterization.html