Close Reading of "The Bloody Chamber" pages 11 to top of 15

by antoniajai (student)

Antonia JaiyeolaNorma The Bloody Chamber

The Bloody Chamber pages 11 to top of 15

In this extract the unnamed narrator and the Marquis consummate their marriage. We see this build up to their consummation where the Marquis teases her, enjoying her discomfort. Left about in the ‘library’ she discovers a ‘Rops’ picture which is symbolic of their own relationship yet, ironically she is not aware of the similarities in her own relationship. [Delighted to have found her entranced with what she had seen], he relishes in her naivety and finally takes her virginity. [Leaving her feeling exposed, he announces his departure for America.] Within these four pages, Carter uses their sexual encounter to explore patriarchy through the characteristics of the Marquis and his control and dominant treatment of the girl, reinforcing the Gothic nature of Carter’s writing.

Carter begins by using a simile to compare the girl to food: “gourmand that he was, as if he were stripping the leaves of an artichoke.” The fact that the Marquis is described as ‘gourmand’ implies that he is an expert at what he does and therefore takes advantage of his power. In addition, the imagery of the girl as an ‘artichoke’ suggests cannibalism, reinforcing his beastly attributes. The verbal pre-modification “Stripping” symbolises the Marquis taking away her innocence. Carter uses the simile “bare as a lamb chop” to describe the narrator, reinforcing her innocence and purity, qualities associated with lambs. On the one hand this could be symbolic of her virginity, however it could also be argued that the noun ‘chop’ implies that she’s a piece of meat ready for him to devour. The adjectival pre-modification of “bare” emphasizes her vulnerability; and reminds us of the biblical reference like a “lamb” to the slaughter, reinforcing his patriarchy in their relationship because lambs are used as a sacrifice for God. In addition, this reference can also highlight his own belief in his godlike status.

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Within this extract Carter foreshadows the ending whereby the female narrator is left with the imprint of the key to the bloody chamber on her forehead. This is evident Carter’s minor sentence “And stain you” which clearly links to the flower of death [lily] which surrounds her in the bedroom. The verb stain is significant because not only does it remind us of the stain she is left with but also symbolises the permanent memory of her encounter with the Marquis. The very fact the narrator calls him a ‘lily’ links the Marquis himself to the flower of death. The narrator at this point sees this imagery as a positive representation of the Marquis however; ironically, the more appropriate image is that of death. Carter’s use of conjunctions at the start of sentences reminds us of the girl’s adolescent stage in her life as a child would usually speak in this manor when telling stories. It can be argued that the girl is in a liminal state as she is neither adult nor child at this point.

Carter explores liminal states through the unnamed narrator and her transformation from a girl to a woman. As the narrator waits for her husband’s return she displays child like qualities as she “flung down the lid in a little fury of disappointment” and naivety in her reaction to the ‘engraving’ on the book: “make me gasp.” She also demonstrates signs of liminal state in her own shock for desire: “I was aghast to feel myself stirring”. Reinforcing how inexperienced she is as she didn’t know she could have such a feeling.

Liminal state is heightened in the realisation that she is no longer a virgin: “I had bled.” The loss of her virginity seems to empower her on the one hand “I had seen his face without his mask” but on the other leaves her in a state of fear and insecurity “cradling my spent body in my arms.” The verb ‘cradling’ symbolises her rebirth into womanhood yet is symbolic of the child and the innocence she left behind. We get an image of a baby in a mother’s womb so fragile and new in a new environment like the narrator.

The Marquis talks to the narrator in a patronising way when she discovers the disturbing “Rops” pictures: “Have the nasty pictures scared baby?” reinforcing the fact that he still perceives her as a child. He is also patronising after their consummation, “my little love child did it hurt?” The use of the noun ‘child’ highlights the dominant male role within this story once again reinforcing patriarchy. It can be argued that the narrator is not accepted as a woman by the Marquis in a virginal or non-virginal state and therefore is in a liminal state because he treats her as a child both before and after the consummation of their marriage.

Carter creates a dominant atmosphere through the use of minor sentences: “Not yet. Later.” This causes an awkward tension when the Marquis teases her. The Marquis gets a disturbing thrill from the power he holds over her. Carter wants to reinforce her views on patriarchy suggesting that men see themselves as the dominant figure. Carter also explores an ominous atmosphere through her use of intertextuality. “All the better to see you” reminds readers of the well known fairytale ‘Little Red Riding Hood.’

Carter changes the tone within these four pages as if the unnamed narrator is talking to the readers. She asks questions like “even on your honeymoon” as if she was addressing the readers; Carter uses this technique to personally engage readers with her story. Also the pronoun “your” used by Carter changes her recollection of the story to second person. Carter reminds us that this is the brides’ memory her experience, by the absence of speech marks when she is recalling his words.

Carter use of irony reinforces an ominous atmosphere on the discovery the book “The Secret of Pandora’s Box.” The discovery of this particular book foreshadows her own situation and the fact that she “yawned” at the book is ironic giving that Pandora was faced with the same temptation as the narrator herself.

Carter also uses similes to warn the narrator and reinforce an ominous atmosphere when she had put the “chocker” on; “it was cold as ice and chilled me.” The connotations of “cold” are death, lack of emotion and evil which are all symbolic of the characteristics of the Marquis. The chocker represents an ancestor of the Marqui escaping death which could mirror the narrators near death experience itself. The fact that the choker is red reinforces the ominous atmosphere as the connotation of red is blood which therefore reminds us of death.

At the end of the extract the Marquis and the unnamed narrator consummate their marriage. The consummation itself creates a foreboding atmosphere as it is presented as a ritual. Everything surrounding them is more important than the girl as the Marquis made her put on the “choker” and “kissed those blazing rubies” before kissing her, foreshadowing her impending death. Even “the orgasm” is written as a definite article in the extract reinforcing the importance of the ritual rather than the girl.

Quotes word count: 103 Word count: 1073