Roles of women within the Gothic

Roles of women within the Gothic

1. femme fatale

   • openly sexual, uses sexuality to manipulate men
     • this behaviour represents dystopian world in which patriarchy is usurped
   • often outcast/rejected from society as a result of transgrassions
     • this is done through a physical or social death, in which she is labelled a 'fallen women'
       • restores order and patriarchal society
   • e.g. Isabella from 'Northanger Abbey'
   • e.g. Beatrice from 'The Changeling'

2. innocent/trembling victim

   • e.g. Elizabeth and Justine - 'Frankenstein'
   • threatened by supernatural/monster/tyrannical male/patriarchal society/basically anything

3. maternal figure

   • most likely a trembling victim before she became a maternal figure
     • respected by society and reader
       • due to traditional and expected fulfilment of her role as a woman
     • rescued by heroic male figure to become maternal figure
     • essential to a 'good' upbringing of child
       • teaches children emotional intelligence
     • easily expendable within Gothic context
       • helps create 'Gothic' childhood
         • due to lack of maternal figure
           • therefore child grows up with lack of emotional intelligence and a sense of abandonment
             • leaves potential for 'evil stepmother' figure to take her place
   • Freudian concept of 'Oedipus complex'
     • male protagonists are sexually attracted to mother
       • this transgresses normal social boundaries, which again is an element of Gothic
       • e.g. Victor Frankenstein's nightmare in which he kisses his love Elizabeth who transforms into his dead mother's corpse
         • symbolic of repressed sexual feelings towards mother
   • e.g. Caroline in Shelley's 'Frankenstein'

4. Gothic heroine

   • arguably Eleanor Tilney from 'Northanger Abbey'
   • can best be described as...
     • an innocent/trembling victim,
       • placed in a situation in which they could transgress and become a femme fatale
         • who manages to overcome this situation and refrain from transgression
           • shows strong will, bravery, courage, strong moral compass