4. Form

What is significant or interesting about the way in which Carter uses form in this story? Choose two aspects of form and explain their significance.

'The Bloody Chamber' is presented to us through the eyes of the un-named protagonist, as she tells the story through first person narration. The story begins 'I remember how', showing us we will embark on the journey along side the character, learning as she learns. 'Remember' also shows the narrator is looking back retrospectively at the events; something that becomes clearer at the end of the novel. Because the story is written retrospectively, it implies a lesson can be learnt from the events, foreshadowing the physical and emotional journey the character goes on. The narrator is speaking in present day, therefore for the events to occur in first person, past tense is used. Throughout the novel it becomes less apparent however, as we are given details at the same time as the protagonist was, we are following her exact footsteps. First person narration is significant within The Bloody Chamber as we get the story from a females perspective, allowing us to think about feminism within the vignette, as only she sees the horrors of the bloody room and what the Marquis is truly capable of.  

There is one key moment that really stands out to me, in which the narrator refers to herself in third person: 'until that moment this spoilt child'. This sentence is interesting, as this sudden change in narrative perspective highlights the fact she does not recognise herself, due to what she has become. She acknowledges her 'spoilt' behaviour and seemingly chastises herself, referring to herself as a child; stripping away any power she had and recognising how vulnerable and endangered she is. At this point in the story she doesn't give herself the pleasure of admitting her feelings, adding to the psychologically scarring events that are about to occur. 

The events are stereotypical of the Gothic form, as the Gothic theme runs heavily throughout the story. Her lack of reaction to the 'iron maiden', 'pool of blood' and 'dead lips smiling' is not expected in modern society, as the shock, horror and psychological terror would be too much for one person to handle, whereas the narrators' 'inherited nerves' mean she accepts the dead bodies and treats it like an everyday occurrence, blurring the lines between the rational and the irrational. This blur of boundaries adds to the horror within the story, as well as the twisted nature of the Marquis' mind, shocking the audience as well as highlighting the power that men dominate over women and sexual difference. 

Gothic form is essential to the story, as the title lends itself to gruesome thoughts, foreshadowing the later events within not only 'The Bloody Chamber' but the other stories too. 'The Bloody Chamber' however is the longest and possibly the most significant, because of its clear use of gothic terms, settings and characters. The 'dark' and 'shuddering' train provides a physical journey to the 'castle' embellished with 'spikes' and 'turrets' providing a Gothic atmosphere for the events to take place. The castle also connotes the gothic convention of entrapment, showing how powerless the narrator is, in contrast to the stereotypical gothic villain. The 'Marquis' is similar to other characters found in stories such as 'The Mysteries of Udolpho' by Ann Radcliffe, and 'The Castle of Otranto' by Horace Walpole. These characters lean upon themes of duality and liminality, much like the Marquis. Even though he gives the protagonist a choice, she transgresses and fulfills his secret wishes, leading to him indulging in her planned death, yet if she had not committed the act of betraying her husband would this be her sentence? Carter uses the blur between the irrational and rational, as well as other gothic conventions to constantly make us question sexual difference and feminism; something which she explores throughout this story and the subsequent stories also.