Angela Carter essay
Critics have often disagreed about whether The Bloody Chmaber and Other Stories is a rewriting of the Gothic with fairy-tale elements or a rewriting of the Fairy Tale with Gothic elements. In contrast to the French tradition, Carter's attitude towards defining the fairy-tale is inclusive, recalling the Grimm's practice. Her position is stated explicitly in the introduction to her first edited volume of tales, the Old Wives' Fairy Tale Book. There she defuses terminologyby labelling 'fairy tale' as a 'figure of speech' , and thus allowing her to the bri Carter is widely known for her feminist rewriting of fairy tales; the Bloody Chamber can be viewed as a midway between the disquietingly savage analyses of Gothicism and patriarchy and the revolutionary novels of the 1980's and 1990's. The violence in the events of earlier Gothic novel, for instance (the rapes, the physical and mental abuse of women) are used to mock and explode the constrictive cultural stereotypes, and in celebrating the sheer ability of the female protagonist to survive, unscathed by the sexist ideologies. The tales in the Bloody Chamber contain a great deal of what is means to be Gothic; the hidden themes of excess, social transgression , taboo, and forbidden sexualities, but the narrative itself provides a rewriting of the fairy tales that actively engages the reader in a feminist deconstruction. Gothic
"The Company of Wolves" by Angela Carter
Commentary "The Company of Wolves" by Angela Carter is a moralistic fairytale that retells the story of "Little Red Riding Hood". It uses the wolves as a metaphor for men who would try to take a girl's virginity. The denouement of the story is the girl finally giving in to the pressure of the wolves, but she feels empowered and in control of her actions. The structure of the story firstly shows how a woman is a victim of the wolves, then shows how Red Riding Hood could be a victim of the wolves, and finally ends up that she is in control and has the power in the relationship. This demonstrates the view that women should not accept the ways of men but should dictate how they behave themselves. During the first two parts of the story where women are victims the wolves are described as "beasts", but in the final part of the story where the woman is in control the wolf is described as "tender" as if the female being more dominant has tamed the wild "beast". "A Boy Who Cried to a Wolf" is also a moralistic fairytale and uses ideas from "The Boy Who Cried Wolf" to tell the story of how a family do not trust and do not listen to their son so he gets revenge on them by striking up a friendship with a wolf. The structure of the story is that the boy goes from mild mannered and polite to deranged and overwhelmed with revenge on his family. The figurative language used in "The Company
CONSIDER THE WAYS IN WHICH CARTER BLENDS ANIMAL AND HUMAN CHARACTERISTICS IN THE BLOODY CHAMBER. HOW DOES THIS CONTRIBUTE TO THE DESTINATION OF THE STORIES/COLLECTION?
CONSIDER THE WAYS IN WHICH CARTER BLENDS ANIMAL AND HUMAN CHARACTERISTICS IN 'THE BLOODY CHAMBER'. HOW DOES THIS CONTRIBUTE TO THE DESTINATION OF THE STORIES/COLLECTION? In 'The Bloody Chamber', Angela Carter uses the blurring of boundaries between animal and human qualities, usually through characters which are 'liminal beings', to overtly direct readers towards a destination concerning identity. In many of the individual stories, the concept of liminality is used to show how tortured and unsure creatures (be they animals or women) come to embrace their identity. In addition to these journeys of self-discovery in individual stories, the balance and degrees of liminality shift as the whole collection progresses, again leading to an overarching destination concerning identity, as the collection goes from a simple and negative liminality to more affirming and complex liminality. The 'simple and negative' liminality occurs in the very first story of the collection: 'The Bloody Chamber'. Here, the Marquis de Sade is portrayed as a sadistic animal (as his name suggests) parading as a connoisseur, a man of sophistication. Indeed, the female narrator identifies his bestiality before she discovers his violent sadism, with constant references to his lion-like physique ("dark leonine shape of his head", "as if all his shoes had soles of velvet", "There were pure streaks of silver in
Discuss Angela Carter’s Treatment of Innocence and Sexuality In ‘the Bloody Chamber and Other Stories’.
THE BLOODY CHAMBER Discuss Angela Carter's treatment of innocence and sexuality in 'The Bloody Chamber And Other Stories'. Angela Carter's collection of short stories, The Bloody Chamber, is a modern, sensual and fantastic rewriting of familiar fairy tales and legends. Among the themes of 'feminism' and 'sexuality' the author introduces 'Magic Realism' as one of her main stylistic devices. Carter's tales are supposedly celebrations of erotic desire, but male sexuality has too long, too tenaciously been linked with power and possession, the capture, breaking and ownership of women. The explicitly erotic currents in her tales mirror these realities. All conform to recognisably male fantasies of domination, submission and possession. Heterosexual feminists have not yet invented an alternative, anti-sexist language of the erotic. Carter envisages women's sensuality simply as a response to male arousal. She has no conception of women's sexuality as autonomous desire. Here is the sexual model, which endorses the "normal" and natural sadism of the male, happily complemented by the normal and natural masochism of the female. These are themes Carter is keen to reason and portray to her reading audience. Her attitudes towards sexuality are evident in these collected short stories of heavy and rich description. In them she redefines the idea of fairy tales as stories solely for
Consider the importance and presentation of Dora in the opening chapter of the novel
Consider the importance and presentation of Dora in the opening chapter of the novel In this essay, I will be discussing the importance and presentation of Dora in the opening chapter. In addition, I will distinguish between the voice of Dora and the voice of the narrator. Dora is important to the novel because she introduces the theme of relationship between the illegitimacy and legitimacy in life; this refers to family and theatre. Dora's family consists of many twins; Dora herself was an identical twin with Nora. They were the biologically illegitimate daughters of Melchior Hazard and 'Pretty Kitty' but they are illegally the daughters of Peregrine Hazard. Peregrine Hazard and Melchior Hazard are fraternal twins. Although Peregrine and Melchior were twins, they were both very different in appearance, attitude, and personality. Dora's illegitimate stepmother, Atlanta Lynde (AKA wheelchair) was a bit of an awkward women, she moaned about what clothes he wore. They also had illegitimate children staying with them because Dora and Nora believed heavily in adoption. They also have the illegitimacy and legitimacy in the aspect of theatre. Dora is very enthusiastic about the theatre and she loves all of the famous plays by Shakespeare. All through the novel there are many references to Shakespeare's plays, for example "A star danced", "how the mighty have fallen", Ranulph
Explore Carter's use of Shakespeare in the novel 'Wise Children'
Explore Carter's Use of Shakespeare in the novel 'Wise Children' Carter continually uses Shakespeare throughout the novel, Carter uses a countless number of Shakespearian references throughout the novel almost too many to be deemed realistic which as a result conforms the novel to magic realism. The structure of the novel itself is similar to a Shakespeare play as the novel comprises five chapters whilst a Shakespearian play comprises five acts. Carter also shows how art emulates life as Ranulph Hazard is seen as being unable to differentiate between art and real life. Ultimately Carter's main use of Shakespeare is trying to bring Shakespeare back to low culture as Shakespeare has become the epitome of high culture which is evident through characters such as Melchior and Ranulph. Carter uses an endless array of Shakespeare references many of which apply to normal everyday situations 'Perhaps Shakespeare had eaten such a soup'. Many of the Shakespeare references used in the novel can be seen as ultimately unnecessary which begs the question: Why does Carter use such an array of references? To the extent where her home is a reference to Shakespeare, '49 Bard Road' in this instant art emulates life as Carter associates Dora's home with Shakespeare. Combined with the number of absurd references conforms Wise Children to magic realism as the readers will be unable to determine
Show how Angela Carter presents Saskia and Imogen in the novel
Using the extract as your starting point, show how Angela Carter presents Saskia and Imogen in the novel "Wise Children" "Oh Saskia, Saskia," said the Lady A. "Don't stand in the way of your father's last chance of happiness-" Saskia picked up the birthday cake on its plate and pitched it against an apple tree. It shattered. Crumbs and candles scattered everywhere. Then she started to break the pots, throwing the dessert plates on the ground and stamping on them. Imogen, giggling in a febrile manner, laid about her smashing glasses with her ribboned crook, sparing nothing. When he saw his caterpillars reduced to pulp, Perry gave a piteous whimper. The Lady A., apprehending carnage among her heritage tableware, started to wring her hands and undulate while Saskia's wails approached hysteria, whereupon Melchior smartly smacked her cheek, the way they do in the movies. "Stop that, young lady!" She shut up at once, put her hand to her cheek, stared at him incredulously with her blue Lynde eyes. Then, tears. He took her in his arms, murmuring, "Hush, hush, darling." She shook him off and flounced into the house, slamming the door behind her, followed a minute or two later by Imogen, except that Imogen had to open the door her sister had just slammed before she could slam it herself. The rest of us were left staring at one another across the broken crockery and I
"The Company of Wolves" Comprehension.
Tuesday, 03 December 2002 Jad Salfiti A2 English Literature "The Company of Wolves" Comprehension 'The Company of Wolves' is the retelling of the classic tale of Little Red Riding Hood. Carter's divergence from the original story represents their transformation from girl to women and the wildness within all of us; our connection with nature and the innate biological desires we all have. The story criticises men and their perceptions and makes a critique on their ideas in regard to women. A great theme within 'The Company of Wolves' is the progression from girl to woman. The use of winter acts as an atmospheric device "It is winter and cold weather" in addition the narrator provides a strong sense of location "Step between the portals of the great pine" the world we are entering is a surreal hybrid of everyday reality and a fairy-tale; the story has a bizarre theatrical elements in it. The boundaries between dream, imagination and reality are blurred, just as they are in the mind of the pubescent child. We are told children "do not stay young for long in this savage country". Little Red Riding Hood, being the youngest of her family had been "indulged by her mother and grandmother", who that day had knitted her a red shawl. The two oldest generations of her family are introducing the youngest generation into womanhood, the shawl represents a desire to keep her safe as
Explain how carter uses language to change the voice of the narrator throughout the bloody chamber
Explain how carter uses language to change the voice of the narrator throughout the bloody chamber Carter uses language devices to reflect change in the narrator's voice throughout. For example, "most pornographic of confrontations" this is metaphorical imagery. As pornography is sex from a secondary perspective this shows the narrators reaction to the prospect of sex, an element of self detachment, as pornography is the act of sex as viewed from an outsider. This show's that the narrator feels vulnerable and uncomfortable with the proposed sexual act. It could suggest that she is using metaphorical imagery to emotionally distance herself from the situation, as to describe a potential sexual encounter using language other than what is literally occurring could suggest that she is trying to remove her feelings from it. However, the mention of pornography could outline the feeling of shame the narrator feels, as it is affiliated with social taboos and embarrassment. This would show that through her materialistic intent she is begrudgingly in a sexual situation, with the man she is only with for his fortune. She might feel like a prostitute through this, and therefore shameful for her choices. Carter uses this device to express that sex should be entirely consensual, not just through acceptance of it, but for both partners to want to under no pressure or feeling of shame.
discuss the presentation of Melchior and Peregrine in Angela Carter's Wise Children
Using the extract from page 105 to 106 as your starting point, discuss the presentation of Melchior and Peregrine in the novel "Wise Children" by Angela Carter Melchior and Peregrine are twin brothers in the novel Wise Children but they could not be more different. Angela Carter presents these two characters in very different ways to reinforce this, by showing them as a series of opposites. The section opens with one of Melchior's lines, "What shall I do without my crown? Othello's occupation gone!" which is actually from Othello itself. Melchior represents the 'high art' within performance, and in particular tragedy. He is the Shakespearean actor to be taken very seriously, although as we see especially in this extract, he can be very melodramatic at the same time. All throughout the novel he is portrayed as a solemn character dedicated to his work and with this comes his own performance. Melchior's emotions are rarely shown throughout the novel, and sometimes the reader questions whether he actually can have feelings. However this is disproved with his tears at losing the crown. "He began to cry. The tears ran down his sooty cheeks like chalk down a blackboard" Dora comments that she had a sudden urge to "clap them (hands) together." Even with the tears, Melchior is putting on a performance. It seems that he cannot help but hide behind a mask, in this case