The Key Elements of Gothic

In my opinion there are about five main key features of Gothic texts that are prominent and reoccurring.
1. Sex - You really can't escape sex in Gothic literature. Dracula; sexual imagery is in abundance such as Freud's theory about the tree's representing penis's and walking up and down the stairs representing intercourse. Not to mention the brides or the scene in the abbey. In  The Bloody Chamber collection, the idea of sex is very prominent; the mirrors 'twelve husbands impaling twelve brides'. Puss in Boots; 'I gave her the obligatory few thrusts'. The Snow Child; 'he thrust his virile member' need I go on?

2. Punishment - Dracula; Lucy is punished for being a little bit on the flirty side, Harker is punished (by the visits from the brides and by becoming trapped in the castle) for sleeping somewhere else in the castle besides his bedroom. Dr Faustus; quite obviously, Faustus is ultimately punished by the Devil for selling his soul in the first place. The Bloody Chamber; The Marquise gets punished for going into the Marquis' room by nearly being decapitated.

3. Death - Probably on a parr with sex in Gothic literature. Dracula; people have to die in order for the vampires to live. Lucy dies twice. In Faustus, the doctor dies in the end, but he also has a flare for necromancy with the whole bringing Helen of Troy temporarily back to life. And in The Bloody Chamber, it's everywhere. The Marquis' museum of wives, The Lady of The House of Love has plenty of death- lads die for her to live.

Other Gothic elements such as the corruption of religion are also prominent but not as obvious as those above.