Essay Question

'In original Gothic, women were often presented as trembling victims pursued by predatory males.'

How far is this true of the first narrative in Angela Carter's collection, 'The Bloody Chamber'?

The Gothic often presents women as trembling victims in original texts that are pursued by predatory males, shown in 'Wide Sargasso Sea' with the character Antoinette or demonstrated by Isabella in 'The Castle of Otranto'. Angela Carter uses this motif in the first narrative of 'The Bloody Chamber' however she does challenge this as the story continues by transforming the female protagonist and creating another male character other than the Marquis that is not predatory. This is done to explore the typical characteristics given to characters in original Gothic texts and contrast them with modern features of men and women.

The first narrative in 'The Bloody Chamber' could be seen as presenting women as trembling victims as the main female protagonist is shown as being  the typical persecuted maiden that is common within Gothic texts. This is initiated at the beginning of the story when the young girl is asked if she loves the Marquis and she replies 'I'm sure I want to marry him' suggesting the patriarchal society of the time, whereby women needed men to support them financially and physically, therefore linking to the passive nature of a persecuted maiden as they cannot provide for themselves and be independent. The young girl's innocence and purity is also presented, two features that are associated with a 'trembling victim' shown through the way she fantasises about sex with the Marquis after their marriage.'His kiss with tongue and teeth in it..' demonstrates a violent image that is seen as natural to the girl due to the social conditioning of wanting this once married. From this the reader can see that the female protagonist had no choice as she 'ceased to be her [mother''s] child in becoming his wife', meaning the silent, young girl has been given to a predatory male in order to gain wealth and status thus being forced into a marriage without an emotional bond but an ultimatum. The young girl can also be shown as a trembling victim due to the 'choker of rubies' she is made to wear by the Marquis acting as a control collar in order to present her as a commodity. This could be interpreted by both Marxists and Feminists as the ruby choker is used to suggest how wealth and the male race control women especially of a lower status than them. 

Angela Carter does challenge this reading further on in the first narrative as she transforms the young persecuted maiden into an independent women presented when she states 'I took the forbidden key', defying her husbands wishes. It could be argued that Carter does this to challenge the generic view on society in which women were meant to follow the rules of patriarchy and do as their husband or any male said. This could also suggest that once this act is done she gains knowledge and becomes empowered due to the young girl seeing the true nature of the Marquis. 
Carter also uses the mother figure, a character from original Gothic texts who within this story is an 'eagle-featured indomitable mother' which challenges the generic traits of a woman as she is shown as being strong and empowered. For example she is absent throughout the story except from the beginning of the tale, thus being returned at a time of heightened terror to rescue her daughter. As she is described as 'a wild thing' it shows the reader that Carter has modernised the Gothic and changed the role of women from the 18th and 19th century. 

'The Bloody Chamber' does however conform to the traditional nature of original Gothic texts by presenting the Marquis as a predatory male. This is firstly suggested as he is described with 'a dark mane' giving him leonine features and from this is evident that Carter has purposely given the male antagonist attributes that are commonly linked with a predatory animal. This is also shown as 'he stripped me [young girl], gourmand that he was' demonstrating that there is no emotional bond between the Marquis and his wife but only physical attraction that makes him hungry for sex, a typical stereotype that Carter is exploring. His predatory nature can been seen again from the fact that he has been 'married three times' showing that he has killed his previous victims and is waiting to target his next. 

However within the first narrative there is a character, Jean-Yves who challenges this perspective with his submissive nature. Carter uses this character to free the young girl from the possession of the Marquis, challenging the traditional view of men as predatory. Jean-Yves enables the girl to feel empowered as 'he would come with me [the young girl] if I would lead him.' suggesting that his presence gives her 'courage', a word that is presented singularly in the text to emphasise this feeling he provides for her. 

In conclusion the first narrative in The Bloody Chamber is partially true of the idea that females are presented as trembling victims pursued by predatory males in original Gothic Texts. This is due to Carter beginning the tale with the stereotypical characters and challenging them as it continues, developing each individual and creating a more modern outlook. 

The Erl King

The Erl King is the most innovative and experimental of the narratives.

Attempt 1:
The purpose of the Gothic is to bring together science and religion by challenging the hegemonic ideology of society. In the Bloody Chamber, Angela Carter exposes fear and uncertainty through challenging the norms and values that are traditionally believed by individuals, for example marriage, love and lust are exposed and questioned. The Erl King follows the traditional Gothic style as it is set in a forest, emphasising loneliness and isolation, which then explores innovative side as it allows the reader to question why young woman go into such places and enforces the idea that everyone has a dark side.  

Alteration:
The purpose of the Gothic is to bring together science and religion by challenging the hegemonic ideology of society, showing how it can be innovative as authentic stories only focuses on religious views. In the Bloody Chamber, Angela Carter exposes fear and uncertainty through challenging the norms and values that are traditionally believed by individuals, for example marriage, love and lust are exposed and questioned. The Erl king can be seen as innovative as it contrast the original image of the green man, with an immature character presented in the Bloody Chamber, whilst also taking a vulnerable woman and helping her on her journey to gain knowledge. It could also be shown as experimental as it alters the generic role of a man into a domestic housewife, challenging the original readerships views on gender roles usually shown in generic folk or fairy tales. 

The Courtship of Mr Lyon

The Bloody Chamber - The Courtship of Mr Lyon

Look at the title of the story. 'Courtship' is an old-fashioned word for the dating period before engagement and marriage. Why do you think Carter chose this word, and do you find it appropriate?

Courtship refers to the period of time in a relationship before engagement or marriage where the couple establish their love before proposing marriage. Carter chose this word as throughout the story courtship is present between Beauty and the Beast, shown through his actions towards her. The chivalry of the Beast is suggested as he shows his emotions and love for Beauty openly, for example when he 'kisses her hands' he is gradually taking steps of affection by following the rules of courtly love and 'wooing' the woman. This is also presented when Beauty leaves and the Beast 'sunk his great head on to his paws.' showing he is not afraid to show affection and his emotion for the woman, presenting his gentlemanly ways. This is an appropriate word to use as it links with the period of time around them showing the reader the correct manner men and women should act in, whilst also foreshadowing the actions of the Beast as he acts in a way that is not only about sex but rather love, unlike other stories within The Bloody Chamber.

Read the description of the girl in the opening paragraph of the story. How is she described? What is the implication of the description, and how is it developed in the plot?

The girl in the opening paragraph is described as 'this lovely girl, whose skin possesses that same, inner light so you would have thought she, too was made all of snow' which suggests her purity and innocence before meeting the Beast, as she is described as being pale and dainty due to her skin being related to snow. This could also show how the girl is affected by her life that consists of poverty, therefore leading to her pale skin which is presented through the pathetic  fallacy of 'pallor', a weak colour that can suggest death. The description is developed in the plot as the girl is later described as being a 'spoiled child' who's physical appearance was 'plumping out' and her psychological state becoming more self obsessed as she 'smiled at herself in the mirror a little too often'. This presents the idea that she has become accustomed to wealth and materialism after spending time with the Beast where she has consumed too much money and started to become superficial.

Research a building in a traditional fairy story. This may be a castle of a prince, a gingerbread house, the home of the three bears. Compare the language used to describe the house and gardens of Mr Lyon with those used in the traditional fairy story. What do you observe about the language used in each story?

Mr Lyon's house and garden are described as having 'wrought iron gates' that lead to a 'perfect, Palladian house' showing a grand Gothic exterior which is softened by the 'short, snowy drive' as the sibilance and alliteration creates a picturesque setting, changing the atmosphere from an eerie one. However Carter describes there as being 'a light that flickered in an upstairs window' which creates an air of mystery as the house is otherwise in darkness and therefore draws the attention to this one part of setting. When inside the house typical Gothic furniture is described within the setting through the colour imagery presented and the large statement pieces that suggest his wealth and materialism. 

In the story of Hansel and Gretel the gingerbread house is the setting for this fairytale and has a more delicate description. For example 'the little house...was built of bread and covered with cakes, but that the windows were of clear sugar.' is described in a lighter way that creates a happy atmosphere as the writer uses language that is not dark or mysterious but is soft and delicate.

Look closely at the description of the Beast, and analyse the linguistic techniques used. These should include: the use of repetition, adjectives, nouns, verbs and imagery. What effect does the description have on the reader? How do you feel about the Beast, and what has made you feel like this?

When the Beast is first introduced he is described as being 'leonine' presenting the reader with an image of a lion, which is then continued when he is said to have a 'head of a lion; mane and mighty paws of a lion', reinforcing this imagery upon them. This may therefore give off the impression that the Beast is lion like in his actions and personality which as the reader learns is not true. This is shown when he is later described as 'grazing her skin, the rough lapping of his tongue' insinuating he has become cat like as he begins to fall in love with her. This shows the reader that his original description is ironic as his actions are not aggressive and strong but rather gentle and soft, especially towards Beauty.                  Originally my opinion of the Beast was negative as he was presented in an aggressive way as he 'shook (the father) like an angry child shakes a doll.' meaning I passed judgement on his character, until his soft and caring nature was shown when he 'kissed (Beauty's) hands'. This consequently changed the way I felt about the Beast as his description at the beginning is not true to his personality which is learnt about as the story continues.

On page 45, Beauty arrives at the house of Mr Lyon, the Beast. How does she  feel about this and how do her feelings change? Track the changes and development of her feelings from page 45 to the end of the tale. Give specific examples of language used to describe this developing relationship.

Beauty is first presented with a negative perspective of the Beast by her father as she attempts to make sense of the man being leonine, effecting the way she feels about him at first as she 'could not control an instinctual shudder of fear when she saw him.' This suggests the girl is weary about meeting him and that she has judged him on his appearance rather than his personality which later is found to be loving and caring. This is continued as the reader is told that the Beast's 'presence chocked her' showing she is uncomfortable around him and unable to develop a relationship with him at this point due to he judgements impeding this. As the story develops Beauty is still cautious of the Beast as although he 'kisses her hands' each night showing his affection for her, she cannot see past the beastly exterior and therefore does not allow him the chance at winning her love. Towards the end of the tale the reader is able to see how Beauty's feelings for the Beast have developed as she knew he was dying instantly when the spaniel arrived at her house. This leads to her rushing to the Beast's house where she for the first time notices 'his agate eyes were equipped with lids, like those of a man', suggesting that she now see's him properly for who he is as before she has never looked deeply into him until now. When she promises she'll never leave him it shows the reader that now she can see who the Beast really is, someone who is similar to her as his features do not define him. 

Look at the way the story is narrated. Is it in first person? Third person? How does the narrative perspective affect the impact of the story on the reader?

The opening paragraph begins in third person as the narrator describes the setting and characteristics of the girl however, the perspective quickly changes to first person when Beauty starts to talk about her father, making it more personal as the reader can gain insight on the main character. Yet the third paragraph then changes once again to third person, disorientating the reader as the shifting perspective continues. The story progresses in third person and continues that way rather than changing narrative perspective once again, allowing the reader more detail as the description is more in depth.

Beauty is described before she meets the Beast when she is living in the 'mean' household which is all her father can provide. After meeting the Beast, she lives in luxurious surroundings in London. Compare the two descriptions and decide whether her personality changes as well as her financial circumstances. Select quotations to support your opinions.

When Beauty is living in the 'mean' household at the beginning of the tale she is described as being a 'lovely girl, whose skin possesses the same inner light so you would have thought she was made of snow.' This suggests that she is quite plain and simple whilst also displaying a sense of purity through the paleness of her skin and the description of her personality. When living in her new luxurious surroundings the description of Beauty changes to one that is negative, for example she is said to be a 'spoiled child' now who expects materialistic objects and outings since she has been with the Beast. This is due to her now having the wealth to be able to experience such things yet because of this she had become superficial and self absorbed, as she 'smiled in the mirror a little too often' suggesting her as a consumer has changed her perception of life allowing her to feel as if she deserves more.  

Beauty's actions transform the Beast into Mr Lyon. Are there any more transformations in the story?

One transformation that occurs in the story is Beauty's physical and mental appearance towards the end of the tale. This is shown as before she visits the Beast she lives a 'mean life that is simple and plain due to her and her father having little money for luxuries however, after she leaves the Beast for London she becomes 'spoilt'. This is suggested from the way she now lives; visiting hotels, buying furs to wear and attending the theatre which are all changes from her old life now that she has money. The wealth that she has acquired has also transformed her mental state as she 'smiled at herself in the mirrors' and had a 'lacquer of the invincible prettiness', suggesting that she is consuming too much money and becoming self obsessed and a product of Capitalism. 

Another transformation would be the way Beauty's feelings for the Beast transform from the beginning of the story to the end as to begin with his 'presence choked her' because of the strangeness of his appearance and actions which were unlike any man's due to his 'leonine' character. Yet as the story develops so do her feelings for the Beast as at the end of the tale she senses he is dying and travels to be with him, showing she is connected to him emotionally now especially when she states 'I'll never leave you'. This suggests that she has now accepted him for who he is as he did for her, leading to her realising that he is similar to her allowing him to transform overall into Mr Lyon.

The Tiger's Bride

The Bloody Chamber - The Tiger's Bride 

Task 1 -

Andrea Mantegna:

• Mantegna was born in 1431 in Italy and died on 13th September 1506.
• He was an Italian painter and Roman archaeologist.
• In 1460 he was made court painter for the Marquis of Mantua where he completes many paintings and frescos such as 'Camera degli Sposi'.
• Engraving was also a skill that Mantegna held and performed.

• Other work includes; 'Madonna of the Caves', 'Lamentation over the Dead Christ' and 'Madonna della Vittoria'.

Giulio Romano:

• Born 1499 in Rome and died 1st November 1546.
• Romano was an Italian painter and architect that was influenced by Raphael and his interest in having Giulio as an assistant in his studio.
• He was most common for collaborating and helping work on the frescos in Vatican loggias with Raphael, which continued after the death of his mentor.
• Example of his work include; 'Fire in the Borgo' fresco, painting and fresco in Palazzo Te and paintings such as 'Donna alla toeletta' and 'Adoration of the Shepherds'.

Benvenuto Cellini:

• Born 3rd November 1500 and died 13th February 1571.
• Cellini was an Italian goldsmith, later becoming a sculptor and using these skills to do so through his mannerism art style.
• The Golden Gate designed for the Château de Fontainebleau was one of his most famous projects.
• 'Perseus with the Head of Medusa' is a bronze sculptor that Cellini is also famous for, situated in the Piazza in Florence.

Task 2 -

• Assuage - to make an unpleasant feeling less intense or severe                                           OR                                                                                                                                                      to clam and pacify.
• Awry - away from the usual or expected course.
• Axiom - a statement that is self-evidently true                                                                         OR                                                                                                                                                       a rule, principle or law. 
• Capisco - to understand or realise something.
• Ciliate - relating to cilia that is projected from the surface of a cell. 
• Civet - a slender mammal like cat that is nocturnal and has a spotted coat, native to Asia and Africa.
• Desnuda - naked.
• Excoriating - to damage, tear or remove the surface of skin.
• Expostulating - to express disapproval or disagreement.
• Eyrie - a nest of an eagle or bird of prey built on a cliff o high in a tree.
• Gavotte - a sort of French folk dance originating in the 18th century.
• Gracile - being of a gracefully slender build.
• Megalomaniac - someone who has an obsessive desire for power and wealth leading to a psycho pathological condition.
• Metaphysical - (metaphysics) relating to things that are thought to exist but cannot be seen.
• Minuet - a type of slow stately ballroom dance for a couple, originating in the 17th century.  
• Molto agitato - being very agitated.
• Nascent - coming into existence and beginning to develop.
• Obsequiousness - being obedient and attentive to a degree.
• Ostler - a man who is employed as a stableman to look after the horses that belong to individuals staying at the inn.
• Patina - a green/brown layer that forms on the surface of bronze due to corrosion.
• Preternatural - beyond what is normal or natural.
• Profligate - 
• Settecento - the eighteenth century.
• Shagreen - rough untanned skin with a granulated surface, now made from sharkskin rather than horses back. 
• Simian - an ape or monkey.
• Simulacra - an image or representation of something. 
• Soubrette - a female character in a theatre production usually playing a maid or young woman. 
• Spar - a stout pole used for the mast of a ship to support the rigging.
• Tantivy - a rapid ride or gallop.
• Tintinnabulation - a ringing or tinkling sound of bells.
• Viscera - the organs contained within the abdominal cavities such as the intestines.

Task 3 -

1) 'The Devil's picture books' are a deck of cards.
2) The language Carter is using when calling The Beast 'Milord' is sarcastic as it shows the narrators feelings towards him due to her showing no love or enchantment when addressing him, suggesting her repulsion and bitterness. By calling him 'Milord' it shows a  sort of power over the girl, as the term links to a patriarchal society and therefore by saying it sarcastically it may suggest she does not respect him or feel as if he has more power over  her.
3) In this collection white roses symbolise romance as the Beast gives the girl a single white rose when first meeting her and then a bunch of them later on in the story. This to the girl is a romantic cliché and therefore she is unappreciative of his gift due to the lack of feelings she has for him and the bitterness involved in her character. Purity may also be suggested by white roses however in this collection the girl 'gets his rose all smeared in blood' which could show how she is not pure as the colour changes from white to red, referring to danger and passion.       
4) The verb 'fleeced' is significant as it allows the reader to understand how awful the girls life was before meeting the Beast, due to her having nothing as her father gambled it all away which makes the reader feel sympathy because they are able to gain insight and background instead of making judgement. 
5) 'Gobble you up' comes from the fairy tale Little Red Riding Hood and is referred to because it links to the Beast and the idea that all is wants is sex from the young girl, which repulses her as he is an animal figure. Yet as we learn later all the Beast wants is to look at the 'pretty lady unclothed nude', suggesting the reader may have judged him from this reference to the fairy tale.
6) The reader is told the inhabitants are not driven by luxuries or appearances as the Beast is seen as unhappy even though he has wealth because of him wanting more than just materialistic objects or looks. This is suggested in the introduction of the girl as it is her love he strives for throughout the story and therefore shows he is not driven by luxuries or appearances but romance. 
7) The significance of the fresco ‘where fruit and blossom grew on the bough together' is it shows unity and how the house brings people together, which is foreshadowed at the end of the story as the girl finally accepts the Beast allowing them to develop their relationship as she is able to feel close to him. 
8) The description of the soubrette suggests to the reader that she is there to show the girl depth into her life as she is described as a 'clockwork twin' due to her features being exactly the same as the girls, who allows her to see when she first arrived at the Beast's house and her and her fathers actions. This means the girl is able to change the way she acts so that the soubrette is no longer a resemblance of her.

Critical Analysis Independent Tasks

Task 1:

• Leonine - something that resembles a lion or lions
• Fugue - a composition where a short melody is introduced by one part and taken up by others (music)                                                                                                                                           Or                                                                                                                                                        a loss of awareness of one's identity often caused by changing from a person's usual environment (psychiatry).
• Rococo - a style of art that influences furniture or architecture characterised by ornamental late baroque style of decoration with asymmetrical patterns.
• Minimalistic - someone who practices minimalism
• Chamber Music - instrumental music played by a small ensemble with each person to a part, usually in the form of a string quartet.
• Florid - refers to a person having a red or flushed complexion.                                                  Or                                                                                                                                         something being excessively intricate or elaborate.

Task 2:

Angela Carter

• Angela Carter was born in 1940 on 7th May and died on the 16th February 1992.
• She was born in Eastbourne during World War Two and was therefore evacuated to Yorkshire where she lived with her grandmother. She then attended school in south London, before leaving for university in Bristol. Carter also lived in Tokyo for two years and after this explored the US, Asia and Europe.
• Carter is seen to be linked with Jane Eyre as she was going to publish a sequel to the book where Adele is a grown woman, wanting to seduce her own father Mr Rochester.
• Genres Carter has written are - magic realism, gothic, short stories, feminism
• She was ranked 10th in The Times 50 great writers since 1945.
• Carters influences include - real life experiences that she had and incorporated within her work along with writers such as Shakespeare, Coleridge, Poe, Dickens, Wordworth and Blake.

Task 3:

Charles Perrault and the Brothers Grimm Fairy Tales

• Charles Perrault was born on 12th January 1628 and died 16th May 1703.
• Perrault invented and provided a ballot box so that future elections could be decided through this.
• His most famous book was called Tales of Mother Goose.
• This was published in 1697 in Paris, France.
• For the basis of his book he used previously written fairy tales, but added to them by using events and images from around him to influence him.
• Within this book there were 8 tales published.
• The Brothers Grimm Fairy Tales were first published in 1812 in Germany, the second edition was later published in 1819.
• There were 211 tales published.
• The Brothers Grimm drew their influence from Charles Perrault.

Task 4:

Charles Baudelaire

• Charles Baudelaire was born April 9th 1821 and died August 31st 1867.
• He lived and worked in Paris, France.
• Baudelaire is unlike his other poetic romantic predecessors as he used influence from urban life in Paris within his work rather than typical romantic settings. 
• The Flowers of Evil is his most famous poetry collection and was published in 1857.
• The themes of this collection include sex and death, whilst also touching on lesbianism, sacred and profound love, metamorphosis, melancholy and lost innocence which lead to Habas and Flaubert calling it ''putrid' and 'unyielding as marble'.
• One interesting fact about Baudelaire is that he was a heavy drink and drug taker throughout the years, addicted to opium and hashish. Another fact is he tended to sleep prostitutes and from this caught syphilis which may have had some influence on his death. 

Task 5:

Marquis de Sade

• Books written by Marquis de Sade include; Justine, Juliette, Aline and Valcour, The 120 Days of Sodom.
• Marquis de Sade focuses on the pleasure of the senses due to him being a libertine and having no regards to moral principles, therefore showing that sexual preference for him did not matter as he believed he could be with whoever he wanted. 

Essential Vocabulary:

• Aesthete - someone who appreciates and is sensitive to art and beauty.
• Aigrette - a headdress worn by a person, made up of white feathers from an Egret and gems.
• Avarice - extreme greed for wealth or material gain.
• Baroque - a European style of architecture, music and art during the 17th and 18th centuries, characterised by detail and mannerism. 
• Bier - a stand/frame on which a coffin or corpse is laid before burial.
• Billets-doux - a love letter.
• Carillon - refers to a set of bells played by using an automatic mechanism similar to a piano roll.
• Carnal - sexual needs and activities.
• Catafalque - a decorated frame that raises and supports the coffin or casket.
• Chthonic - relating to or inhibiting the underworld.
• Dolorous - the feeling or expression of sorrow or distress.
• Eldritch - weird, sinister, ghostly or unearthly.
• Enfer - translates to hell from French,
• Gourmand - a person who enjoys eating, often eating too much.
• Immolate - to kill or offer something as a sacrifice, usually by burning them or it.
• Importunate - being persistent to the point of annoyance. 
• Interdiction - is a military term for an authoritative prohibition.
• Jinn - refers to an Arabian mythology in which there is an intelligent spirit, able to appear in human and animal form having a good or bad influence.
• Lisle - a smooth, tightly twisted cotton thread mainly used for hosiery and underwear.
• Loge - a separate private box within a theatre OR the front section of a theatre balcony.
• Loquacity - when a person is very talkative.
• Lustratory - to purify by means of ceremony.
• Missal - a Roman Catholic Church prayer book containing texts used in the Mass throughout the years.
• Nacreous - having a pearly appearance.
• Parure - a matched set of jewels worn together by those of the upper class.
• Sacerdotal - relates to priests or priesthood, for example sacerdotal robes.
• Sadomasochistic - the deriving of pleasure, especially sexual gratification from physical or emotional abuse. 
• Sardonic - scornfully or cynically mocking someone.
• Trousseau - the possessions a bride collects on her wedding day such as clothes, linen and accessories. 
• Vellum - a fine parchment made from the skin of a calf, lamb or kid.
• Vicuna - an animal that is a wild relative to the llama leading to fabric being made from the fleece of this mammal.
• Viscera - the organs contained within the abdominal cavities such as the intestines.
• Voluptuary - a person devoted to luxury and sensual pleasures.

Basic Questions:

1. Carter presents the ruby choker as being 'clasped round' the woman's throat, suggesting that the choker is some sort of control collar used by the Marquis to show his power due to the patriarchal society they live in. The word 'clasped' presents a violent image that the choker is made to be worn by the woman again her will, this is done to show the Marquis' wealth and to present her as his property rather than a person.
2. The narrator describing herself as an 'exile' once married suggests that she is now the Marquis' property as she will no longer be able to return home, due to her belonging to her husband because of the patriarchal society that contributed to this.
3. The girl is given confidence and power as she realises that it is her innocence and nativity that draws the Marquis to her, allowing her to decide on how she will act in the future. The giving of the keys also allows the girl to feel as if she has power, as she can control where she goes and what she does during her husband's travels.
4. The usual 'hero' structure is altered on page 33 as the woman is presented as being her own heroine that is able to think of a way to prolong her killing, rather than having a male figure as her rescuer. This therefore goes against the social views of the time as Carter is challenging the hierarchy that would have been evident during this era.
5. The Duke's view of woman is purely negative as he only sees them as physical objects that he will eventually kill. There is no emotional connection with the Duke and woman as he sees himself as having ultimate power over this sex ,for example 'he made me put on my choker' suggests he only wants to use the woman as a symbol of his wealth and materialism rather than for love.

Developed Questions:

1. The description of the Marquis' and the woman's first sexual encounter is erotic and violent, as the woman herself describes there as being no 'finesse about it'. This shows that there is no romance included in this encounter as the way it is described when he 'stripped (the woman), gourmand that he was' suggests he is only after pleasure rather than a deep relationship. The word 'gourmand' links with the idea of violence and erotica as it shows the reader he is hungry for sexual gratification and therefore creates a pornographic image. 

2. The language used to describe the painting is pornographic and erotic, symbolising the violence between the Marquis and woman as the painting describes a scene like their first encounter which was dark and graphic.

3. On page 15 Carter uses the colours; white, black, purple, pink, ruby, all of which link with the Gothic as they represent something dark and mysterious  as they describe the setting around her. 

4. The phrase 'All the better to see you' comes from the fairy tale Little Red Riding Hood, used to remind the reader that this is still a fairy tale, with a hidden message. This phrase is also used to show the nature of the Marquis as it suggests he is similar to the Wolf within the fairy tale, as he is beast like and violent just as the character is in Little Red Riding Hood.

5. 

Complexed Questions:

1. In the story appearance in the form of looks is important as they allow the reader to create an image of each character, for example with the Marquis we are told he has a 'dark mane'. This gives the reader the impression that he is beast like, due to him having a mane similar to a lion which then leads to the nature of the man being hinted at. His looks are also addressed when his eyes are described as having 'absolute absence of light', which suggests their is no soul to the man and that inside he is dead presenting a typical Gothic element.The woman's looks however are rarely mentioned however, she is described as being 'the frail child within (the white dress)' which is important as it suggests she is still naive and not fully grown. This means her relationship with the Marquis is not a mature one and therefore they are both using one another for either pleasure or wealth. As well as looks being considered, clothing is equally as important in the story. One of the main items to be looked at is 'a choker of rubies, two inches wide.' which is given to the woman after she is married. This may be seen as a sort of control collar used by the Marquis to oppress his wife and keep his power over her, foreshadowing his actions later on in the story as we learn the people made to wear the choker are killed. 

Magic Realism:

• A genre/aesthetic style where magical elements are natural within a realistic environment or setting.
• Characteristics of this genre include:                                                                                             Fantastical elements - fantastical events are shown in a realistic way with fantasy traits given to characters.                                                                                                                             Real world settings - typical settings used to show the magic underneath the real world       Authorial reticence - the author deliberately withholds information, enhancing the story as it gives the impression that fantastical events have no taken place.                                               Heightened awareness of mystery - a major theme in magic realism writing.                           Political critique - criticisms of society are made through having an alternative world that corrects the reality of the viewpoints.
• This genre is not only present in literary works, but also film and visual arts.
• Magic realism first originated in Latin America during the 1920s as the art movement of the time influenced literary projects.