Comparing The Bloody Chamber and Frankenstein Flashcards
Forbidden Knowledge - Frankenstein
“We were nearly surrounded by ice… our situation was somewhat dangerous” - Walton (Letter 4)
This letter to his sister Margaret, shows his ambition to surpass previous human exploration by ultimately reaching the North Pole.
At the time Shelley was writing this, the North Pole had not been discovered yet therefore this illustrates Walton’s transgressive behaviour of obtaining this forbidden knowledge which eventually leads to his downfall of being stuck between ice sheets.
Forbidden Knowledge - Frankenstein
“Learn from me… how dangerous is the acquirement of knowledge, and how much happier that man is who believes his native town to be the world, than he who aspires to become greater than his nature will allow”
This dialogue from Victor Frankenstein, who has committed the act of obtaining forbidden knowledge and faced the consequences of doing so, is a direct authorial intrusion by Mary Shelley herself.
Forbidden Knowledge - The Bloody Chamber
“All is yours, everywhere is open to you - except the lock that this single key fits” TBC
Forbidden Knowledge - The Bloody Chamber
“And the very first key I picked out of that pile was, as luck or ill fortune had it, the key to the room he had forbidden me” TBC
This serves as the rising action of the story. The key serves as a symbol of forbidden knowledge that the heroine decides to acquire. which leads to her potential death if not rescued by her mother.
Portrayal of Women - Frankenstein
“Her figure was light and airy; and, though capable of enduring great fatigue, she appeared the creature in the world”
Here, Shelley leaves the readers with an image of perfection, so opposed to the monster. Elizabeth here is depicted as feminine, heavenly and the ‘ideal’ woman - especially of the time era Shelley was writing.
Portrayal of Women - Frankenstein
“She was there, lifeless and inanimate, thrown across the bed, her head hanging down, and her pale and distorted features half covered by her hair”
This is the consequences of Victor’s own decisions. The creature warned Frankenstein beforehand that he will be present on their wedding day and still chose to go forth about it. Elizabeth death, potentially, can be perceived to be a symbol of the creature’s power over Victor.
Portrayal of Women - The Bloody Chamber
“My eagle-featured indomitable mother… shot a man-eating tiger with her own hand” TBC
Here, Carter subverts the stereotypical female character - especially within fairy tales who are traditionally depicted as weak and in need of a male-hero.
Portrayal of Women - The Bloody Chamber
“You never saw such a wild thing as my mother… one hand on the reins of the rearing horse while the other clasped my father’s service revolver” TBC
This portrayal of the heroines mother would have shocked the audience of the time Carter was writing, as it depicts the mother attributing male traits.
As in ‘Bluebeard’, the female protagonist is saved by her family, but in TBC it is her mother rather than her brothers who end the Bluebeard-figure’s life.
Portrayal of Women - The Bloody Chamber
The Lady of the House of Love
“Vous serez ma proie” = “You will be my prey”
By having a female say this about a male, Carter ultimately destabilizes traditional fairy-tale elements as typically the girl is the vulnerable and helpless character who is preyed upon by a male - not the other way round.
Isolation - Frankenstein
“… the stars often disappeared in the light of morning whilst I was yet engaged in my laboratory”
Victor’s ambitions are forcing him to extreme and intense work which further isolated him mentally and physically.
Isolation - Frankenstein
“I paid no visit to Geneva”
This is dangerous as it is said that family and friends must be present as they ground you back to reality however here he is detaching himself from his family and therefore will be oblivious to impending danger.
Isolation - Frankenstein
“In a solitary chamber, or rather cell, at the top of the house, and separated from all the other apartments”
Victor’s laboratory being physically isolated from other apartments mirrors his mental isolation.
Isolation - Frankenstein
“I had feelings of affection, and they were requited by detestation and scorn”
……………
“I am alone, and miserable; man will not associate with me; but one as deformed and horrible as myself would not deny herself to me”
We recognise that the creature was once a compassionate soul yet his encounters with humans has filled him with hatred, to the point that he wishes for a female creature to be just as hated in order for them to bond. Links to “a man is born free but everywhere finds himself in chains”. The extent of his isolation has led him to make a wish which can be considered selfish to the potential female monster.
Isolation - The Bloody Chamber
The Lady of the House of Love
“… she herself a cave full of echoes, she is a system of repetitions, she is a closed circuit”
Isolation - The Bloody Chamber
The Lady of the House of Love
“Can a bird sing only the song it knows or can it learn a new song”
