“Sex and Violence Are Always Linked in the Stories of the Bloody Chamber.” to What Extent Do You Agree with This View?

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“Sex and violence are always linked in the stories of The Bloody Chamber.” To what extent do you agree with this view? Sex and violence are irrefutably linked in the stories of The Bloody Chamber due to the nature of the gothic genre wherein tales contain elements of horror and romance. In most stories in The Bloody Chamber, sex and violence do run parallel to each other. Therefore, I agree with the statement that sex and violence are linked within The Bloody Chamber. However, there are some exceptions to this. One tale within The Bloody Chamber wherein sex and violence are inexplicably linked is the titular tale. In The Bloody Chamber, there are connotations of violence throughout. One of these being the Marquis’ wedding gift to the protagonist – “a choker of rubies, two inches wide”. However, it is not until a bit later in the tale that the two themes of sex and violence are obviously linked. This is clearly shown when the protagonist sees “a dozen husbands impal[ing] a dozen brides” in the mirror. The use of the word “impale” here is interesting as it has connotations of violent stabbing and penetrative sex. The Bloody Chamber, I think, is one of the best examples of a tale wherein sex and violence are always linked. In The Snow Child the themes of sex and violence are closely linked. This tale is particularly disturbing, with the rape of a dead chid at the end of the tale. The Snow Child is violent from the very opening where the Count and Countess coming across “a hole in the snow; this hole is filled with blood”. This has violent connotations as it is never explained why the hole is filled with blood. The Countess’ plan to kill the child is also violent as she wants to be “rid of her” and hopes that the child will drown. However, the rape is where sex and violence are undeniably intertwined. The Count is described as “thrust[ing] his virile member into the
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