Leaving Gormenghast

Knowing it will never leave us

NB: The following contains spoilers for all three books in the Gormenghast Trilogy, as well as Boy in Darkness

If you’ve been a part of the Gothic Book Club for the past month or so, then it’s quite possible you’ve been immersed in the world of Gormenghast, Mervyn Peake’s landmark work of gothic fantasy. Whether you’ve just read Titus Groan, or powered through all three titles, the world will have attached itself to you like mold in one of the many castle basements.

I’ll be honest; I held off a few days writing this, as I wasn’t ready to say goodbye, but then realised that Gormenghast isn’t somewhere you simply leave.

The Gormenghast books are about many things; the decline of an empire, the dynamics of revolt and subterfuge, and the pain of growing up in a world which is at odds with your perspective and beliefs. It’s a vast, expansive tale, within which dozens of characters hold influence and sway over the proceedings.

Titus Groan, the titular character of several installments, is merely a baby in the first book, and the events which surround his development into adolescence and young manhood unravel over the course of numerous impactful, catastrophic and deadly events.

From the burning of the library to the great flood, the physical damage done to Gormenghast makes for some of the biggest action sequences within the story, but also represent a greater sense of deterioration within the structures and governance of the very way of life which occurs there.

For better or worse, Gormenghast is life for those who dwell, work and rule within it. In Titus Groan, the first book of the series, we are given glimpses into the outside world, which is portrayed as primitive and tribal. We are given the impression that this is somewhat medieval in terms of setting, but this is one of many illusions which Peake manages to construct.

It is in Titus Alone during which we discover that the world outside the walls is vast, modern and messy. Depending on when one reads Boy In Darkness, which tells of Titus’ escape at the age of fourteen to a mythical world filled with hybrid creatures and indefinable magic, this stark sense of realism will be all the more jarring.

This brings many things into question. The mental state of Titus, the legitimacy of his perceived status and, most concerning, the existence of Gormenghast itself. Given the fragmented tone within Titus Alone (partly due to the fact that Peake sadly passed away before it was finalized and refined), this adds to the overwhelming sense of uncertainty and discomfort which build throughout the final novel.

Titus also becomes a marvellous example of the humanity which exists at the heart of Peake’s characters. They are never wholly good or bad. They exist in a very human middle ground, in which empathy, disdain and hatred all circle one another. It’s hard to witness Titus’ petulance; his foolishness and arrogance, but then again, he is a young man of almost twenty years old throughout the final novel (the one in which we get to know him best). He is indelicate and awkward, yet admirable and determined.

Titus Alone is divisive. It’s regarded by many critics and fans of the series as being a lesser work. On a personal level, I would contest that. I don’t feel that it’s a weak point, but there is a sadness to it. Given Peake’s decorative mental condition, acerbated by his wartime trauma and early-onset dementia. The upset is caused by what could have been. Gormenghast deals with mental health in a way that very few other novels do; another element of its anomalous nature. There is a pathos and deep sense of empathy on display across all of the books in the series, but this really comes to light in the final pages.

The grotesquerie with which the series culminates is deeply unsettling; carrying the reader through the tragedies and travesties which have occurred so far, as part of a spiteful mockery. It is not merely Titus who is affronted, it is all of us.

Gormenghast is presented one last time in horrific pastiche. We, like Titus, are left wondering if anything we have experienced has been real. Whilst a momentary potential confirmation and return to the familiarity of the castle is alluded to briefly before the final page is turned, such comfort is denied.

Titus, once again, steps out into the world. The future uncertain. The path unclear.

Peake would never see the true impact and legacy of his work, but it remains forever with all whom encounter it. Gormenghast, for all its splendor, decay and ridiculousness, it provides equal measures of hope, wonder and escape.

I, for one, will be returning to that escape upon regular intervals, for I don’t feel I want to be away from it for too long.

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I’d like to thank everyone who has come with me on this journey over the past while. It’s been such a joy to connect with people in this way, through a shared love and affinity for this bizarre little book, and an admiration of Gothic literature in general. Please share your experience in the comments below.