Impressions of Symbolism in the Bloody Chamber

The chamber uses natural imagery combined with horror, perhaps trying to symbolize the innocence of women in contrast to the destructive, violence to which Angela Carter embodies men. This perhaps symbolizes the womb, 'naked rock... sweating with fright,' implying that sex will corrupt the womb, therefore corrupting the woman. This links to the womb being compared to Pandora's Box. Whilst shut it is harmless, but once opened, it unleashes all evil. The room is described as ‘designed for desecration’ perhaps referring to Carter’s views on the womb; it is designed for reproduction but she views this as a violent and perhaps unnatural act. The ‘lilies’ are once again mentioned, perhaps implying that although he is not there in physical form, his gaze is still upon her. Phallic symbols are also often used to represent male dominance, such as the ‘key.’ The key is also used to open the violent room, suggesting that without male presence this violence would not exist. ‘The dead lips smiled’ may also be symbolic of how women allow men to dominate and control them, they are complicit in their punishment, suggesting Carter is trying to express that they are somewhat responsible for their fate due to their submission. The entirety of the chamber appears to symbolise the power men have over women and how women allow this.

Impressions of Laura Muvley's 'Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema' 1975

My initial impression of Laura Muvley's 'Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema' was that the concepts often appear outdated. Although women are often represented as essentially a reward which men may work for, they tend to take a more active role than Muvley implies. For example she talks about women as being motivators for the male protagonist, but essentially useless, whereas in film currently women often take an active role rather than just being the reason for men to act. Furthermore, in my opinion the Freudian psychoanalytical concepts she advocates are questionable as they are too heavily subjective, as Freud had little evidence to back up his research and coined concepts such as the super-ego with no scientific support. 

The idea that men have power over women through observation in films is interesting but its applicability today is questionable as this essay refers to films in which women were idolized for their beauty which although still occurs, is less apparent today. Whilst it still exists, women are not so solely judged on their appearance, they are usually chosen for beauty, but are given less one dimensional characters who are more independent. However I do agree with her view that often in films women are pursued for sexual aspects which then are removed when they are obtained by the man. This implies that once women are obtained by a man they change, losing the aspects which attracted the man initially. Therefore this takes away the woman's power in the way that they are viewed on film as usually the man takes the dominant role.

Bluebeard Summary

Bluebeard tells the story of a young woman marries Lord Bluebeard, a four time widow. Bluebeard tells his new bride that his wives are buried in the cemetery and died of natural causes. The theme of naivety is seen as the girl doesn't question the peculiarity of all of his wives dying so abruptly and believes him. After marrying, Bluebeard leaves her whilst he leaves for a few weeks, leaving her with a set of keys. He allows her complete access to his castle, except for the use of the smallest key. However, curiosity overcomes the girl and she uses the key which he told her not too, opening a chamber in which she finds all his deceased wives have been strangled. She then runs from the chamber but drops the key in blood, she tries desperately to wash off the blood but it is impossible. Bluebeard then returns early from his trip away and finds she is uneasy. The next day he asks for his keys back, when she hands them over he sees the blood and knows what she has done and tells her she must die like his other wives. The girl asks for ten minutes to live which he grants. Her sister has visited and the girl runs to her and asks her if her brothers are arriving, as they promised to come and see her that day. Her sister replies that she has not seen them. Bluebeard then shouts up to the tower where his wife and her sister are, that the ten minutes are over and she must die. She came down and knelt imploring that he would not kill her. Bluebeard raised his knife but just before he could kill the girl, her two brothers killed him. Afterwards the dead wives were given a proper Christian burial and the girl met a new man and married him.

Aspect of Fairy Tales - Sets of 3

Sets of 3 can occur to prove that something is not just due to coincidence without becoming too monotonous, as if something occurred just once or twice it could be chance.

3 is also a number often used in history, such as the ancient Greeks and Romans had 3 graces.

It can also be associated with magic, for example in Shakespeare's Macbeth there where 3 witches. 

3 is also a spiritual angle - there are 3 states of craftsman; apprentice, journeyman and master, 3 states of matter; solid, liquid and gas, 3 tenses of time; past, present and future etc.

It may also have biblical connotations, referring to the Passion of Christ in which there is a 3 day interval between Good Friday and Easter Sunday.