THE FIGURATIVE UNDERSTANDING OF LIFE AND DEATH IN THE GOTHIC NOVELS ABOUT VAMPIRES WITH THE HELP OF ORIENTATIONAL METAPHORS
Abstract
The article is devoted to the representation of the conceptual antinomy LIFE – DEATH with the help of orientational metaphors in the Gothic novels about vampires. Due to the peculiarities of the Gothic novels the representation and understanding of the concepts LIFE and DEATH is changing together with all the innovations and developments of the world. The experience and knowledge which is expressed via orientational metaphors represents the most valuable and important fact of the understanding of LIFE and DEATH.
The associations of LIFE with good, bright and pleasant things in the world, with beginning and hopes, its position high above the surface is revealed with the help of the orientational metaphors LIFE is UP, LIFE is FRONT, LIFE is RIGHT, LIFE is SOUTH and LIFE is EAST. At the same time, DEATH is associated with darkness, gloom, sadness, ending of everything and its position is somewhere down the earth, which is shown with the help of orientational metaphors DEATH is DOWN, DEATH is BACK, DEATH is NORTH and DEATH is WEST. The relations between LIFE and DEATH are very tight and it is seen in the connection of different spatial factors, which are possible due to the humans’ understanding of the world and their national, ethnocultural and social needs and traditions.
Orientational metaphors reflect our vision of the world with the help of spatial orientation and is shown in different situations of our life. So, concepts LIFE and DEATH are interrelated and exist in constant connection with each other.
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