No one likes being the second choice. This holds especially true for newly married Gothic heroines. You may think you’re marrying the man of your dreams, but if he’s been married once before that’s almost always a sign of trouble. Whether the first wife is dead or simply hidden away, she often manages to cast a shadow over her husband’s new lover and interfere with their relationship. The haunting figure of the first wife is one of my favorite Gothic character tropes! Continue reading Gothic Tropes: The First Wife