The document provides an analysis of Angela Carter's short story "The Bloody Chamber". It discusses how Carter subverts Gothic literature traditions by presenting complex female characters who are "active and saviours", unlike the typical passive, victimized women in Gothic stories. It analyzes Carter's presentation of the female protagonist and her mother, noting how both characters defy expectations and take control of their fates. The document also examines Carter's portrayal of the male Marquis character as representing patriarchal oppression. Overall, the analysis suggests Carter uses the story to comment critically on gender roles and society's views of women as victims.
The document provides an analysis of Angela Carter's short story "The Bloody Chamber". It discusses how Carter subverts Gothic literature traditions by presenting complex female characters who are "active and saviours", unlike the typical passive, victimized women in Gothic stories. It analyzes Carter's presentation of the female protagonist and her mother, noting how both characters defy expectations and take control of their fates. The document also examines Carter's portrayal of the male Marquis character as representing patriarchal oppression. Overall, the analysis suggests Carter uses the story to comment critically on gender roles and society's views of women as victims.
The document provides an analysis of Angela Carter's short story "The Bloody Chamber". It discusses how Carter subverts Gothic literature traditions by presenting complex female characters who are "active and saviours", unlike the typical passive, victimized women in Gothic stories. It analyzes Carter's presentation of the female protagonist and her mother, noting how both characters defy expectations and take control of their fates. The document also examines Carter's portrayal of the male Marquis character as representing patriarchal oppression. Overall, the analysis suggests Carter uses the story to comment critically on gender roles and society's views of women as victims.
The document provides an analysis of Angela Carter's short story "The Bloody Chamber". It discusses how Carter subverts Gothic literature traditions by presenting complex female characters who are "active and saviours", unlike the typical passive, victimized women in Gothic stories. It analyzes Carter's presentation of the female protagonist and her mother, noting how both characters defy expectations and take control of their fates. The document also examines Carter's portrayal of the male Marquis character as representing patriarchal oppression. Overall, the analysis suggests Carter uses the story to comment critically on gender roles and society's views of women as victims.
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STORY ONE: ‘The Bloody Chamber’, Angela Carter
Critical comment: Carter ‘wanted to draw the reader’s attention to the often unpalatable realities that underpinned familiar nursery stories’ S. Gamble (2001) What might some of these ‘unpalatable realities’ be?
Source story: A very wealthy (but unattractive) aristocrat, Bluebeard, marries a young girl. He then goes away, leaving her the keys to his chateau. She enters a room she has been forbidden to visit and discovers her husband’s previous three dead wives. She re-locks the door but the key is bloodstained. Bluebeard returns and threatens to kill her, but her brothers arrive, kill Bluebeard and rescue her. She remarries and shares her wealth with her family. What do you think the moral of this story was supposed to be? What do you think Carter might have found ‘unpalatable’ about this story?
Sections of the story:
• The journey - P1 up to p6 ‘…we were married.’ • Arrival at the castle - P6 up to p14 ‘…invisible trapezes in the air outside.’ • The keys - P14 up to p26 ‘…the door creaked slowly back.’ • Exploration - P26 up to p28 ‘…like the door of hell.’ • Realisation - P28 up to p34 ‘Lost, as the victim loses to the executioner.’ • Rescue - P34 to end of story
Whilst reading, consider the following:
- Representation of male and female - Carter’s use of imagery and symbolism - Presentation of mother, daughter, Marquis and the Piano Tuner - Transgression and conflict as key themes - Use of setting and atmosphere - How Carter’s story compares to the core Gothic extracts you have looked at so far
Study focus: Presentation of gender
‘Carter gives the Gothic a different spin when it comes to gender…At the close, it is women who become active and saviours, not the men.’ (Merja Makinen: emagazine 45, September 2005) ‘the short stories…are equally unsettling in their apparent eroticising of sexual violence and victimisation.’ (S Gamble, 2001) ‘Carter’s work has consistently dealt with representations of the physical abuse of women in phallocentric cultures, of women alienated from themselves within the male gaze…’ (Makinen) Carter talks of ‘the contempt for women that distorts our culture’ (Angela Carter, 1979)
Written response Respond to Merja Makinen’s comment about Carter’s insistence on presenting women as ‘active and saviours’, in order to deliberately go against the Gothic tradition of presenting women as ‘virginal and victims…sexually innocent and passive’. By analysing the presentation of the mother and daughter in ‘The Bloody Chamber’, say to what extent you agree with Makinen’s comment.
Differences between Perrault’s ‘Bluebeard’ and ‘The Bloody Chamber’
Perrault’s ‘Bluebeard’ ‘The Bloody Chamber’
1 young girl is not developed as a character, developed character, has deep thoughts and feelings stereotypical damsel in distress
mother, sisters and brothers, wealthy only a mother, no siblings, poor
third person first person
brothers save the girl mother who travelled and did interesting things saves the girl no mention of sex overly sexual, explicit description of sex
has friends in the house, her sister etc is alone in the house apart from servants
no alternate love interest blind piano tuner as a love interest who helps her
expects her brothers to come and save her, looks for doesn't expect her mother to save her, prepared to them die
STUDY 1: Study of the presentation of the girl…
Literary features to look out for:
- Imagery – visual, tactile, gustatory, olfactory and auditory - Simile and metaphor - white lilies --> associated with funeral services, death Areas for study and discussion (make notes under each one): - Images used to portray herself before the consummation of the marriage - innocent, worried about being judged, - Relationship to the Marquis -don't seem to talk much, he's very dominant, maybe feels in debt to him bc he gives her lots of stuff -The heroine is still supporting her own objectification, and feels that the Marquis’ love for her will protect her from his more sadistic tendencies. - Personality and portrayal after the consummation becomes more curious, wants to betray him, -feels herself as a sacrificial lamb, innocent and doomed to be slaughtered by a monstrous man. - Impact of her experiences on the rest of her life -The Marquis’ wealth means his power extends even beyond his castle, and so it becomes symbolic of the oppressive patriarchy in general. - Role(s) within the story -wears a choker that looks like a slit throat --> french revolution
2 -forshadows her beheading -The chauffeur (or valet) of the rich man is another motif Carter will repeat throughout the book. The heroine feels herself objectified, but she is still enthralled enough by the Marquis that she wants to be a worthy object for him – as good as his earlier wives. - The heroine is constantly reminded of her own innocence and powerlessness when facing all this luxury. -is naked and he isn't --> powerless and objectified - Comparison with other female figures in other Gothic texts (e.g. Isabella in Otranto) - Many of the stories end with the heroine inheriting wealth and basically living “happily ever after.” The heroine has given up all the power and manipulation inherent in the Marquis’ world. For each key quotation, try to explore: - Perspective - Meaning - Literary devices -Effect on audience (Make notes in each box under the quotation)
Key quotation 1 Key quotation 2
"(I swear to you, I had never been vain until I
met him.)" ---> convincing reader she isn't vain??? Key quotation 3 Key quotation 4
Any final thoughts, key questions or issues/opportunities for debate that you’ve uncovered.
Bonus: What has all of this revealed about gothic literature? What topic or feature of the gothic does it help to explore?
3 STUDY 2: Study of the presentation of the mother…
Literary features to look out for:
- Emotive language - Imagery - Role reversal
Areas for study and discussion (make notes under each one): - Her background
- Her personality
- Her relationships and role (reversal)
- Comparison with mother figures in other Gothic texts (e.g. Hippolita in Otranto)
For each key quotation, try to explore:
- Perspective - Meaning - Literary devices -Effect on audience (Make notes in each box under the quotation)
Key quotation 1 Key quotation 2
Key quotation 3 Key quotation 4
Any final thoughts, key questions or issues/opportunities for debate that you’ve uncovered.
Bonus: What has all of this revealed about gothic literature? What topic or feature of the gothic does it help to explore?
4 STUDY 3: Study of the presentation of the Marquis…
Literary features to look out for:
- Imagery - Sadism - Conflict
Areas for study and discussion (make notes under each one): - Images used to portray Marquis as husband, predator, mask, and flower
- Relationship to new wife
- His background
- Contrasts with the ‘piano tuner’
- Comparison with other male figures in other Gothic texts (e.g. Manfred in Otranto)
For each key quotation, try to explore:
- Perspective - Meaning - Literary devices -Effect on audience (Make notes in each box under the quotation)
Key quotation 1 Key quotation 2
Key quotation 3 Key quotation 4
Any final thoughts, key questions or issues/opportunities for debate that you’ve uncovered.
Bonus: What has all of this revealed about gothic literature? What topic or feature of the gothic does it help to explore?
5 FINAL STUDY 4- summing up
How does this story:
- Comment on patriarchal oppression?
- Present society’s readiness to identify women as ‘victims’ of such oppression?
- Prove that Carter wishes to put a ‘different spin’ on discussions about gender?
