In recent years, the "dark academia" aesthetic has gained immense popularity across social media platforms, particularly among young adults. Characterized by a love for classical literature, Gothic architecture, intellectualism, and a moody, often melancholic atmosphere, dark academia is a subculture that romanticizes the pursuit of knowledge within the setting of an elite academic institution. At the heart of this aesthetic lies The Secret History by Donna Tartt, a novel that is often credited with inspiring and shaping the dark academia trend. This article will explore how The Secret History draws from various literary traditions, embedding itself in a long lineage of classic works while shaping modern interpretations of intellectualism and beauty.
The Plot and Themes of The Secret History
First published in 1992, The Secret History is a psychological thriller centered around a group of eccentric students at an elite liberal arts college in Vermont. Under the influence of their charismatic Greek professor, Julian Morrow, they become obsessed with ancient philosophy, beauty, and a higher intellectual calling, eventually leading them down a dark path of murder, guilt, and moral corruption.
At its core, The Secret History explores themes of elitism, isolation, the pursuit of beauty, and the destructive consequences of intellectual hubris. The protagonist, Richard Papen, serves as the observer to this rarefied world, much like the reader, and his journey into this darkly alluring academic environment speaks to the desires and contradictions central to the dark academia ethos.
Literary Inspirations
Tartt’s novel is deeply influenced by several literary traditions and texts, which offer a window into the psychological and thematic depth of the story.
1. Greek Tragedy and Classical Influences
One of the most obvious literary inspirations for The Secret History is ancient Greek tragedy. The characters in the novel, particularly the enigmatic Henry Winter, are obsessed with the idea of living according to the principles of ancient Greek thought. They idealize concepts like beauty and transcendence, but their interpretation of these classical ideals often leads to extreme and immoral behavior. The group’s descent into murder is reminiscent of the fatal flaws and hubris present in Greek tragic heroes like Oedipus or Achilles.
In many ways, The Secret History mirrors the structure of a Greek tragedy, where an initial act of violence or moral wrongdoing leads to inevitable downfall and destruction. The narrative draws on the Aristotelian notion of catharsis, as the reader is meant to feel both horror and pity for the characters who, despite their intelligence and privilege, are undone by their own arrogance and misinterpretation of classical ideals.
2. Dostoevsky’s Crime and Punishment
Fyodor Dostoevsky’s Crime and Punishment serves as another major influence on The Secret History, particularly in its exploration of guilt and the psychological aftermath of murder. Like Raskolnikov in Crime and Punishment, the students in Tartt’s novel believe they are acting in accordance with a higher philosophical purpose, a justification that allows them to commit murder. However, the weight of their crime soon becomes unbearable, fracturing their relationships and unraveling their carefully constructed intellectual personas.
The novel delves deep into the moral ambiguity of its characters, much like Dostoevsky’s work, presenting a complex portrait of people whose intellectualism and morality are at odds. The tension between the characters’ philosophical ideals and their human frailties drives much of the novel’s psychological drama.
3. F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby
Another clear influence on The Secret History is F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby. Like Fitzgerald’s novel, The Secret History is a tale of aspiration and the destructive pursuit of an idealized life. Richard Papen, much like Nick Carraway, is an outsider who becomes captivated by a mysterious, insular world. Both narrators are drawn to a group of elite, enigmatic characters who ultimately embody the moral decay at the heart of their respective stories.
Henry Winter, with his cold detachment and intellectual arrogance, can be seen as a modern parallel to Jay Gatsby, both figures who construct elaborate facades in the pursuit of something greater—whether it is beauty, knowledge, or love. However, just as Gatsby’s dream crumbles under the weight of reality, so too do the students’ idealized notions of intellectual purity lead to their ruin.
4. The Gothic Tradition
The novel also draws from the Gothic tradition, particularly in its atmospheric setting and its exploration of psychological darkness. The college in The Secret History is depicted as a secluded, almost otherworldly place, with its ivy-covered buildings and cold, isolating environment. This sense of isolation is key to the novel’s exploration of the characters' psychological descent. Gothic literature often emphasizes the themes of decay and madness, both of which are present in the unraveling of the students' carefully maintained personas.
Moreover, the emphasis on death, secrecy, and hidden motives echoes the Gothic tradition’s preoccupation with the darker aspects of human nature. The novel’s obsession with beauty and the sublime, even as it confronts the ugliness of murder and guilt, mirrors the paradoxes often found in Gothic literature.
The Impact on Dark Academia
The rise of dark academia as a cultural movement owes much to the themes and aesthetic of The Secret History. The novel’s exploration of intellectualism, classical beauty, and moral ambiguity resonates deeply with the dark academia subculture, which often romanticizes an elite, scholarly lifestyle. Social media platforms like Instagram, Tumblr, and TikTok are filled with visual and literary references to the novel, as it epitomizes the tension between the desire for intellectual fulfillment and the dark, often destructive paths that such a pursuit can take.
The Secret History also taps into a deeper cultural yearning for meaning and purpose, especially among young people navigating a modern world that can feel increasingly disconnected from tradition and intellectual rigor. Dark academia, with its reverence for the past and its emphasis on aesthetics and knowledge, offers an appealing antidote to the digital, fast-paced reality of contemporary life.
Conclusion
Tartt’s The Secret History has become a cornerstone of dark academia not only because of its themes but also due to its rich literary foundations. Drawing on classical tragedy, Gothic atmosphere, and modernist explorations of guilt and moral decay, the novel offers a layered, complex portrayal of intellectualism gone awry. As dark academia continues to captivate readers and social media followers alike, The Secret History remains at the heart of this movement, reminding us of the dangerous beauty that lies within the pursuit of knowledge and the human mind’s capacity for both greatness and self-destruction.
