In Gothic writing, women are presented as either innocent victims or sinister predators or are significantly absent. Consider the place of women in Gothic writing in the light of this comment: 2500-3000) Guiltless individuals, devilish seductresses or merely not being significant whatsoever are some of the very few attributes women are presumed as in Gothic literature, highlighting women’s actually position in society as to what role they actually play. This type of fiction was a popular tradition developing from the 18th century onwards which includes conventions of the underground, the unspoken taboo as well as concepts from evil in the human mind. Elements that tend to be popular within gothic literature range from Sadomasochism, melodrama, exoticism, transgression and even alienation. Whether woman are perceived as weak and feeble victims, or sinister seductresses (or not included at all), writers of this genre present this gender to the audience as either of these options which makes us question how innocent are women?
This reversal of gender stereotypes and gothic conventions is used often in Carter’s work. In the Bloody chamber, it seems that although she has adapted gothic conventions into a modern way, presenting females as the more powerful characters than men, she also retains some of these typical roles in some of her stories. The lady of the house of love would be an immediate example of how Carter creates a role reversal that differs from the typically valued places in gender. Carter creates the role of the ‘Femme Fatal’, with this dangerous woman that lives in the castle. This representation of the woman as powerful differs from the original expectation in a gothic novel, as the woman would usually be portrayed as weak, and in need of saving.
In the novel we are presented with very different examples of female sexual expression and are brought with the idea of the “new woman”. Not only does the expression of female sexuality in the novel defy societies norms, it poses a threat to male dominance and temptation, and brings about the idea of the loss of female innocence. While reading the novel Dracula the issue and controversy over female sexual expression was the most prominent and common theme in my opinion. Not only were we introduced to Lucy and Mina, but the three vampire sisters in the beginning of the novel. In the beginning of the novel Lucy and Mina are seen as the epitome of a Victorian women, they represented innocence, purity and devotion to men.
Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein” was written following the Age of Enlightenment and during the Romantic period, one factor of this period in time was Gothic themed novels. The “Gothic” genre includes the idea of loneliness and isolation, which could explain why Shelley’s novel contains characters who could be considered “outsiders”. Aldous Huxley's dystopian novel “Brave New World” first published in 1932 which was written way ahead of its time; scientifically and when referring to social problems, the novel has an almost prophetic awareness of the ‘nightmarish’ future the Nazis and Soviet Communism were yet to inflict. In both texts there are several characters perceived as “outsiders” those being; Frankenstein, the creature, the De Lacys, Safie, Walton, Justine, John, Bernard and Linda, but for various reasons. These include; those who purposely refrain from outer society and those who are prejudiced by others, this is mostly due to their physical appearance.
Fears and uncertainties have always played a part in everyday life. They are inescapable, all consuming and despite the changing times, universal. The Gothic genre is a style of literature which is intended to invoke a sense of terror while examining the dark side of nature. But the way Gothic literature commands its impact is through confronting society with its deepest uncertainties and perceived social threats. Therefore, the Gothic cannot exist or be valued without the sublime and contextual fears as they are universally understood conditions.
In The Bloody Chamber Angela Carter reverses gothic traditions so that the males become the victims instead of the females. Consider at least two of the stories in the bloody chamber in the light of this view. The gender constructs of passive, young, virginal woman who are victimised by dominant, strong and wealthy males is a common trait throughout gothic tales including many of Angela Carters short stories from “The Bloody Chamber”. However, Carter received the criticism of “[extracting] latent content, conjuring up a new exotic hybrid” in which she challenges the typical stereotypes of gothic conventions, influenced by her feminist nature. These caused the post modern versions of her stories to adopt dualisms of combining sexual desires with naivety and give alternative interpretations that perhaps the male characters suffered victimisation instead.
In Bram Stocker’s novel “Dracula”, there is an ongoing theme of sexuality threatening the social order. The Victorian era in England was known for its patriarchal division of power between men and women. Men were the dominant figures, and were seen as intelligent, rational and powerful. Women on the other hand, had very limited roles in Victorian Society, and were subordinate to men at the time. In the novel, the traditional roles and ideologies of men and women in Victorian society are challenged by Dracula.
Gothic Essay A study of the gothic is a study of the human nature. Discuss During the 18th century, technology advanced rapidly and there was also much revolution in political ideals, the coming of the gothic genre was during this time and it was closely linked and reactionary with romanticism. Therefore, the study of gothic genre can be said to be a study of the human nature. It often dealt with such issues about how man can acquire too knowledge, how society rejects the less than average people who lives on the border of society through highlighting human emotions and the presence of supernatural elements. Gothic Texts such as the film Edward Scissor hands and the novel Frankenstein are some examples that explores the inner psyche of the characters minds, maximising suspense and fear through the use of a physically-disabled protagonist whose ultimate fate and violence are a result of the corrupted modern-society.
“Through Victor Frankenstein and Robert Walton, Shelly criticises the masculine qualities and applauds the feminine.” Discuss The novel ‘Frankenstein’ is a traditionally gothic novel and as such contains many conventions of the genre. These conventions include the supernatural, a ‘being’ shown to be rejected by society and many other significant aspects of the genre but most importantly weak women, also known as damsels and victims of the gothic plot and male protagonists who dominate them. Mary Shelley wrote ‘Frankenstein’ in a time period when women were predominantly viewed as submissive, fragile creatures. It is highly possible that this affected the way her characters were written, especially as it meant she was unable to openly write about women as strong, independent humans, nor men as weak and often fallible. The few women that do exist in the novel are ‘idealised’ as a type of perfection of the species.
Kathryn Goers ENG 346: Virtue and Vice in Gothic Literature Dr. Timothy Decker 5 November 2012 Sexuality? Predator vs. Victim Women in several known horror narratives, stories, and films, are highly sexualized. They aren't always seen as human, and are treated as victims. In his novel, Dracula, Bram Stoker is no different from other horror writers.