Page 7- The use of “exile”-
By Carter describing The Narrator as in “exile” once married it allows the reader to further sense the isolation that The Narrator must be feeling due to her entrapment within The Marquis world. As to be in exile is to be without the world you knew, entering a new life, therefore this too links to the idea that The Narrator’s isolation is due to The Marquis’ persistence of making The Narrator feel as if she does not belong to his world/ regime. This in turn links to the idea that The Narrator “ceased to be her child in becoming his wife”- as it is almost as if The Narrator has had to choose between her two opposing lives, and that as The Narrator now in a sense belongs to The Marquis, she must continue in her isolation from the life she once knew. This further links to The Narrator’s sense that she does not belong in The Marquis’ world and cannot go back to her Mother now she is trapped with The Marquis; therefore Carter’s use of the word “exile” shows the true extent of The Narrator’s imprisonment with The Marquis.
Page 6- The way Carter presents the Ruby Choker-
On Page 6 the Ruby Choker given to The Narrator as a wedding
present from The Marquis is shown to be strangling The Narrator- this is shown
through “clasped round my throat”. Therefore, this suggests that Carter’s
representation of the Ruby Choker is that although it may seem pretty/ elegant
it can be harmful if viewed as innocent, this may foreshadow events at the end
of the short-story as if read in a Feminist way then this may suggest that the
Ruby Choker is like Women- portrayed as innocent but can bring harm just as Men
can- as The Narrator’s Mother ultimately ends The Marquis reign of terror.
Furthermore, the way in which Carter presents the Ruby Choker on Page 6 shows
it to be “a gesture of luxurious defiance”- this links to the use of Carter’s
intertextuality as it is that during the French Revolution the aristocracy who
were able to “escape the guillotine”. To show their defiance they wore a ribbon
around their necks, as this is where the guillotine would have hit them-
therefore to give The Narrator the Ruby Choker suggests the fact that as the
reader learns The Narrator is in danger they still know that she will not be
killed/ murdered by The Marquis- as she is wearing a symbol of defiance-
meaning that she will too escape the guillotine.
Page 16- What seems to give The Narrator confidence and
power once more-
The Narrator on Page 16 seems to gain a sense of confidence
due to the idea that it is The Marquis who needs her more than she needs him-
as Carter writes “must have been my innocence that captivated him”. This
suggests that The Narrator knows she does not have to give in completely to The
Marquis- as she almost turns a Patriarchal Society on its head- as it is not
The Marquis that has control over The Narrator but in a strange sense it is the
other way round- as The Marquis has a sexual lust for The Narrator that she can
hold away if she wants to. However, this confidence/ power is almost taken away
from The Narrator once she enters The Bloody Chamber as she sees the
capabilities of The Marquis, and therefore realises that she cannot hold him
off for too long as he will at some point fulfil his sexual desires by force is
needs be.
Page 33- How is the usual Hero structure altered-
On Page 33 the stereotypical Hero structure is altered as it
is shown that the perceived future Hero in Jean-Yves cannot save/ help the
Narrator- as he leaves her on her orders so as not to be caught himself. This
opposes the usual Hero figure as they are strong in the face of adversity-
however here it is only The Narrator that will in a sense stand face to true
danger, as Jean-Yves has left- this may be Carter creating the sense that The
Narrator, a Woman as she is, can still be as strong as any Man in the presence
of her fear. Therefore, this would link to a Feminist view of the text- as
Carter expresses the idea that not all Men are as strong as Women, and that
this must be further expresses within society.
Page 38- How is the usual Hero structure altered-
The stereotypical Hero structure is altered on Page 38 of
The Bloody Chamber as it is almost as if the Hero (Jean Yves) is shown to be
unable to save his lover (The Narrator) due to his blindness- this is shown
through Jean Yves saying “you do not deserve this”- almost as if he knows that
there is no hope for The Narrator as it is a patriarchal society that they live
in. However, Jean Yves and The Narrator are still shown to be heroic on page 38
due to their courage in the face of peril- as it is as if they have accepted
that The Narrator will be murdered by The Marquis- but attempt to accept this
fact almost as an act of defiance- as the chase may be what The Marquis
desires- therefore The Marquis plans will almost be ruined if they give in to
him with no complaints.
The Duke’s view of Women-
The Duke is shown to be very commanding towards The Narrator
within The Bloody Chamber- as it is often said that The Marquis “made” The
Narrator do something- creating the idea that The Marquis believes that Women
are below his status- creating the idea of a patriarchal society within The
Bloody Chamber as it is as if The Marquis believes he holds power over Women
within the text. This is further shown through The Marquis belief that the
Women within The Bloody Chamber are almost his possessions- as they are kept on
a “catafalque” and “under a sheet of very rare and precious linen”- showing the
idea that to The Marquis the Women within The Bloody Chamber are simply
possessions that must be showed off like precious jewels- linking to the Ruby
Choker that is presented to The Narrator- as it is almost as if The Marquis
looks after Women better after their death- as if an inanimate object is worth
more to The Marquis than a living being.
Page 10/ 11- Their first Sexual Encounter-
The Narrator and The Marquis first sexual encounter is
supposed to show the greed of Man towards Women- and the power that Men believe
they can exude over Women. This is shown through the line “Not yet. Later.
Anticipation is the greater part of pleasure”- this shows the way that The
Marquis can control The Narrator’s actions, and from a Feminist point of view
this section within the text attempts to show this power/ greed/ lust over
Women to be morally wrong- as it is as if The Marquis can in a sense own The
Narrator through his actions and a Patriarchal Society- this is shown through
The Narrators line “my purchaser unwrapped his bargain”. Furthermore, their
first sexual encounter is shown to be uncomfortable for The Narrator and the
reader- as it is almost as if The Narrator lets The Marquis use her for his own
pleasure to do with as he wishes- this is shown through the line “blood rushed
to my face again, and stayed there”. This shows that The Marquis does not
wishes to comfort The Narrator but embarrass her- suggesting there is no love
from The Marquis, but simply greed so that he can get as he wishes- this
becomes uncomfortable as it is as if the reader is there and truly feels sorry
for The Narrator- as she is forced into sexual acts by The Marquis simply due
to the idea that a Man holds power due to a Patriarchal Society.
Pages 12/ 13- The Painting- Language used and what it
symbolises-
The language used to describe the painting that The Narrator
has found within The Marquis library is language that becomes increasingly
dark, as The Marquis true nature is slowly revealed to The Narrator and the
reader simultaneously. The intensified darkness is shown through the line
“connoisseur of such things”- this allows the reader to question what it is
that The Narrator has seen within this painting. The language too becomes increasingly
dark through the vivid images used to describe the actual painting, as the
Woman and the masked Man are both viewed in their naked form within the
painting, but the Man is shown to be dominant within the painting, as he seems
to take pleasure from the image of the sobbing Girl- shown through the line
“man in a black mask fingered with his free hand his prick”. The painting is
used within the text to symbolise the dominance that The Marquis has over The
Narrator, but also the fact that The Narrator is seemingly blamed by society
for being too inquisitive when it comes to The Marquis, this is shown through
the title of the painting- “Reproof of Curiosity”. This could link to a Marxist
reading of the text, as it suggests the fact that The Narrator should remain
loyal/ unquestioning towards The Marquis due to his power/ status/ wealth
within society. The Painting could too foreshadow the fact that The Narrator
will be blamed for her inquisitiveness, as she is told not to enter The Bloody
Chamber but does so against The Marquis orders, suggesting that she, like the
Girl in the Painting, will be punished for her defiance of The Marquis.
Furthermore, the Painting may symbolise the idea that all Men wear a
metaphorical “mask” within their lives, and rarely choose to show their true
emotions unless they feel threatened or it necessary in order to keep their
pretending to be somebody they are not.
Page 15- The colours used by Carter and their effect-
On Page 15 there are many colours used by Carter to describe
differing things within The Marquis Castle, examples of some of the colours
used on Page 15 are; “acrid black coffee”, “purple velvet”, “soft white doves”
and “pink eye open”. In my opinion this may link to the idea that the colour
within The Narrator’s life is about to vanish- as she is given the keys to The
Marquis Castle, moreover she is given the key to The Bloody Chamber. In a
Feminist’s view this could link to The Marquis taking away The Narrator’s true
vision of life, as his own view of life is obscured through murder and an
inherent desire for power, that although it may take a Man like The Marquis to
give a Woman a more affluent life, it also takes a Man to take away a Woman’s
life through greed and lust. Furthermore, the use of the differing colours by
Carter may foreshadow the idea that The Narrator will be cared for/ loved by a
Man who has no sense of colour/ his surroundings in Jean-Yves- linking to the
idea that if you cannot see you cannot control (The Male Gaze) - therefore
making it safer for The Narrator to love Jean-Yves as he cannot control her
whilst he is blind.
Page 13- Significance of- “All the better to see you”-
This phrase used by Carter of “All the better to see you”
was established in the European Fairy-Tale Little Red Riding Hood, which was
first published by Charles Perrault and is used by Carter in this instance for
multiple reasons. Carter’s use of this phrase could be to present the dominant
nature of The Marquis within ‘The Bloody Chamber’- as it is the Wolf who says this
during Little Red Riding Hood- this could suggest that The Marquis is almost a
predator within the ‘The Bloody Chamber’ and that The Narrator is The Marquis
next victim. Furthermore, this phrase may be used by Carter in this instance as
it shows The Marquis to be animalistic, as Carter has previously described The
Marquis as “leonine”- therefore by Carter using a phrase used by a Wolf in a
well-known Fairy-Tale further shows how The Marquis is a powerful figure that
should not be threatened- as The Marquis is not a figure that connotes anything
other than death/ violence. In addition, the use of The Marquis saying he
wishes to see The Narrator in the “bright light of day” mirrors the way that
The Narrator has had an obsession throughout ‘The Bloody Chamber’ of seeing the
true nature of The Marquis- as it is as if now The Narrator has seen The
Marquis with his metaphorical ‘mask’ off the act has to be reciprocated, as it
is now that The Marquis wishes to see the true nature of The Narrator, as The
Marquis know that The Narrator has seen inside his forbidden room- but he
almost wishes her to come clean about her, in his eyes, treacherous deed.
Appearance within ‘The Bloody Chamber’-
Appearance is shown to be important within ‘The Bloody
Chamber’ as it seems to be that the characters are ambiguous throughout, as it
is almost as if The Narrator and The Marquis at some point are both unclear on
their intentions- therefore are vague in their appearance to the other. This is
symbolised through the metaphorical “mask” that The Marquis is said to wear at
the beginning of the short story, as it is almost that through his appearance
being altered to his true reality The Marquis is able to deceive The Narrator-
this is also what The Narrator does when she learns the truth about The
Marquis/ his Wives.
Moreover, the mark on The Narrator’s forehead is important
within ‘The Bloody Chamber’- as it symbolises/ mirrors the Mark of Cain- this
suggests that The Narrator has the symbol of death marked upon her body- it is
however a mark of the fact that The Narrator cannot be harmed/ killed- as this
is how the tale goes in Genesis 4 of the Bible. Therefore, appearance can be
shown to be important in this situation as it shows the failure of dominance
from The Marquis over The Narrator- as through the symbol he bestows upon her
it means he cannot harm her- as it is not a mark of death as The Marquis
believes.
Furthermore, the way that The Narrator appears as weaker
than The Marquis from the outset is too important in the overall tale, as it is
shown that The Marquis is dominant over The Narrator through the sexual ways in
which he seemingly ‘abuses’ her, this is shown through the line “the course of
that one-sided struggle”- as this is suggestive that The Narrator is made to
perform sexual acts due to her appearance (as a Woman) as this is a prime
example of a Patriarchal Society- as because The Narrator is a Woman she must
succumb to The Marquis requests- as he is Male and she is Female.
In addition, The Marquis appearance is shown to be of vital
importance within ‘The Bloody Chamber’ as he is described as animalistic in his
features- this symbolises the ferocious nature of The Marquis as he is said to
be “leonine”. This shows that The Marquis is almost predator-like in his actions,
as he is shown to prey on the ‘weak’ from the outset due to the way that Carter
presents him, this is too shown in the quote “all the better to see you”- as
this mirrors the Wolf in Little Red Riding Hood- suggesting that like the Wolf,
The Marquis is almost an animal in his actions/ abilities- as it is shown
through his suggested appearance that he has no conscience, as if a predator
that preys on those who are perceived as weaker than him.
Magical Realism-
This is a style/
genre of fiction- whereby Magical elements are blended with the Realistic
elements of life- in order to develop a deeper/ more questioned state of
Reality.
The Magical elements are blended so subtly with the
Realistic elements- so that it is to the extent that the Magical elements are
almost accepted as the Reality of the World.
Matthew Strecher- Magical Realism is- “what happens when a
highly detailed, realistic setting is invaded by something too strange to
believe”.
Phrase coined in 1925 by German Art Critic- Franz Roh- but
was first used in modern form in 1955.
Elements of Magical Realism-
- Fantastical Elements- traits of the Fantastical given to real-life characters/ situations.
- Real-World Setting- no new worlds are set up- it is the same world with strange elements.
- Authorial Reticence- this is the with-holding of information concerning this world that combines Real/ Fantasy elements- due to the lack of questioning the reader accepts the events as normal- as if the world was questioned in the work of fiction then it would be questioned by the reader.
- Hybridity- this is multiple plot lines working simultaneously within the work of fiction- they are harmonious- can make the reader question realities- as it may be that the realities work in a dream-like state.
- Plenitude- shown to be extraordinary/ magnificent through the lack of emptiness within it- at times it can use explicit detail.
- Metafiction- exploration of how literature can impact the real world/ how the real world can impact literature/ how the reader can too impact a text and the world.
- Heightened Awareness of Mystery- links to hidden meanings that the reader must be able to sense as they read- ability to read it at an intensified level.
- Political Critique- contradicts society/ politics and the way they work- linked to Marxism- they are revolutionary- as they are against dominant forces in the economy etc.
