Our dear friend Edgar Allan Poe was nicknamed the master of macabre, which translates to the master of all things ghoulish, ghastly, grisly, gruesome, horrid, morbid, and deathly. I'm not too sure that's a reputation I would be comfortable with, but for Edgar and many other writers, it's exciting to focus on the dark side of life. Nowadays, people say not to be so negative. Stay positive and you will bring positive things into your life. Does that mean Poe's obsession with the shadows was a negative force? Certainly not! Death is as much a part of life as birth. 200 years ago, people were much more comfortable with the idea of death. Employing this theme into poetry and prose can be a very positive and healthy activity.
To master the macabre like Poe did, it's essential to take stock of symbols that represent what's come to pass. A few categories to consider are plants and animals, colors, environment, and psychology.
We can begin by looking at Poe's famous raven, the black and unpleasant sounding bird. There's also the crow, which was used in a very dark movie in the 1990's aptly named, "The Crow." Other dark symbolic animals are black cats, rats, spiders, and bats and even amphibians like frogs and toads that thrive in wet and slimy creeks. Anytime these animals are included in a writing piece, a very dim atmosphere is created for the characters. Deep forests, vines and twisty, knotty trees can also enhance this effect.
Black isn't the only "color" that supports deathly themes but sticking to dark shades when describing character's clothing is a good idea. However, red, the color of blood, is also a decent choice. One exception is the innocent, naive character. He or she can be adorned in powdery blues, whites or anything that acts as a stark contrast to the cold and shadowy backdrop. Speaking of setting, some classic environments include thick, wintry wooded areas that encase log cabins as in "The Tell-Tale Heart."
Eerie animals, muted colors and scary, cold unwelcoming environments all set tone for macabre characters that are usually very close to death. Sometimes, they have just lost a loved one, like the precious Lenore or maybe they themselves are fighting a dark force that wishes them gone. But if it's real depth you're looking for, be sure to include a character that may be a little bit insane. Nothing is scarier than losing your mind! So, don't be afraid! Get out there and write some good and healthy death stories!
