Let's just say that there's plenty in The Mysteries of Udolpho that can't be fully explained. Yeah, we get the rundown at the end that solves a bunch of the outstanding mysteries, but there are plenty of strange things that seem a little… otherworldly. All those shadows gliding around the estate start to look extra spooky when Du Pont is locked in the dungeon and Valancourt is rotting in a Parisian prison.
That is to say, there's no way we're going get a coherent explanation for every little supernatural detail that scares Emily senseless. And why should we? Udolpho isn't just about sating our curiosity. It's about those mysterious details of life that can't be explained away in one CSI episode.
Questions About The Supernatural
- Why does Radcliffe leave so many mysteries unsolved in the book?
- Is Em's dad really watching over her?
- Is there a pattern to when Em hears the ghostly music? Why do you think she hears it some times and not others?
- Are the "spirits in the woods" good or evil presences?
Chew on This
Em wants to believe in ghosts, so she makes up every supernatural occurrence in the book.
The strange music playing in the background gives Em a chance to contemplate things that can't be easily explained.