7/29/2019 How Does Angela Carter Reinterpret Gothic Conventions In

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How does Angela Carter reinterpret Gothic Conventions in

‘The Bloody Chamber’ short stories?

Gothic Setting

Generally sticks to conventional Gothic settings – isolated castle, forest,graveyard but often used symbolically – the forest used as a metaphor 

for a girl moving towards adulthood with all its fears and dangers or the

threat of the wilderness beyond human civilisation.Often used to explore class – Gothic horror stories tended to be ‘blue-blood’ horror – 

focused on the aristocracy – but not all of Angela Carter’s stories are about the upper-

class – many use a more humble, everyday setting, more typical of a fairy tale – alsofocused on the lives of the working class.

Gothic CharactersFemale Stereotypes – previous Gothic texts place women as the object – often

stereotype of victim or predator – or absent all together.Women characters often used as plot device to present fear.

Or showed male fears of the strong, dominant woman who were portrayed as a predator 

and punished.Carter places women at the centre of the text – texts such as Werewolf are female

dominated.

She explores the use of women as victims and creates a brave, unafraid girl.She explores the use of the female predator and the prejudice surrounding this.

The Male Protagonist– men become the ‘other’ in the text.

Explores the macho stereotype men have had to fit – Wolf-Alice helps to reveal thecount’s true self through caring for him.

Explores male violence towards women – rape, sado-masochism, power relationships.

Explores sexual aggression and illicit desires.Carter explores the ambiguities, oppositions and discomfort of the Gothic

In the 1970s when Angela Carter wrote the stories, feminists often presented women as

victims of male aggression but Carter felt this was a limiting factor in the feminist

 perspective, she wanted to explore how women might respond to violence and threat in anew way; her stories explore how this might be achieved. She said ‘no daughter of mine

should ever be in a position to be able to write BY GRAND CENTRAL STATION I

SAT DOWN AND WEPT, exquisite prose though it might contain. (BY GRANDCENTRAL STATION I TORE OFF HIS BALLS) would be more like it, I should

hope.)’.

The Supernatural character – she uses traditional Gothic supernatural

elements but changes the perspective to give us a different view – the female vampire, the

werewolf rather than the wolf. Transformation also key – human/animal.

7/29/2019 How Does Angela Carter Reinterpret Gothic Conventions In

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Gothic Signifiers or SymbolsUse of colour – black, white, redDarkness, light, snow, blood

Forest

Ruined castle

Labyrinth/ dungeonMirror 

Mother, step mother, grandmother 

JourneyAnimals – bat, raven, wolf 

Moon

 Nature

Gothic ThemesGood versus evil

Justice and punishmentPast coming back to haunt you

The subconscious – dreams and nightmaresPsychology of human nature – split personality, evil in human nature

Battle between the sexes – power relationships, female entrapment by patriarchy

Uneasy relationship between pain and loveSexual aggression and illicit desires, forbidden sexuality, taboo

Madness – social conventions

Aim to frighten the audience through atmosphere and tension

Gothic StorylinesA dangerous supernatural creature who threatens a young girl. Naïve young character (often young women) kidnapped and locked away in castle,

escapes and is pursued whilst hero attempts to rescue her.

Mad scientist’s experiment which comes to life and creates chaos.Brooding mysterious stranger wields power and control.

Animal/human transformation.