How does Carter create her characters? Choose one character we have not discussed in class and explain how this character is presented.
By basing her story on the tale of Bluebeard, Carter is essentially reprising the role in the form of the Marquis, as like Bluebeard he entices, then murders his wives. The basic ideas of the character had already been formed, but this chilling role highlights the patriarchal society and the oppression of women.
We are given little detail about the Marquis; we do not know his name or specific details about what he looks like, only about his "strange, heavy, waxen face" and "his dark mane". These vague descriptions of the character highlights his mysterious nature, showing that there is more to discover; foreshadowing his secret. His "even, steady breathing" and the unstirring muscles in his face, contrast with the vile murders he commits, emphasising the psychotic behaviour of a sociopath, as no reaction or sign of a guilty conscience occurs.
Links to animalistic traits such as "cobra-headed" and "shriek" add to the carnal activity and nature of the Marquis. He looks at the protagonist like a piece of "lamb", connoting the impulse to kill her, murdering her like a lamb being slaughtered. The Marquis is presented as carnally driven, as killing is a very raw and animalistic thing to do, linking back to the connotations of the "mane" that the Marquis was described as having. The mane, linking to the lion, is renowned for being the "king of the jungle", highlighting the commanding nature of the Marquis, showing the audience that everything about him signals he is in charge.
His wealth, class, looks and demeanor displays the power he possess, particularly over females. His possession over the protagonist is further developed in his punishment for her disobedience; sentencing her to death. The power he has over her is represented through the mark of blood he transfers to her forehead, signalling her deviation from the patriarchal society, in which she is supposed to do everything he says. This "shameful mark" links with the bloodied sheets that signal her loss of virginity and purity, which is also a shameful thing. He takes her purity, her freedom and he planned to take her life at the end of the story to ultimately show her who is in charge.
The character of the Marquis has been created by Carter to portray feminine values and expose the way in which men treat their wives or women in general. Her exaggeration of murder and captivity may not have been the case in Victorian times, yet his behaviour shows him in a negative light - a character not liked by the audience - meaning they sympathise with the protagonist, realising what horrors women have to go through, increasing the theme of feminism within the story. He is a tool to show how women are oppressed and made to feel like possessions, which is a point Carter wanted to make.
A very good response. Your target now is to think about how to include elements of the gothic in your response. Look at the elements we discussed as a starter to The Snow Child and see how they connect to TBC.
ReplyDeleteYou also need to pipe up a bit more in class. The rest of us would like to hear your thoughts, at the minute only Abi gets to hear them.