When I first heard the word 'feral', I thought it meant diseased or something. It doesn't. It actually means 'wild' children. The most notable example of a feral child in today's society is Genie. (I knew English Language would come in handy some day.) Genie was born in 1957 and spent the first 13 years of her life strapped to a potty in her windowless bedroom. She had no socialisation with the outside world, her father forbid Genie's brother and sister to communicate with her and most nights she was strapped into her sleeping back in a metal crib. If Genie attempted to vocalise her father communicated by grunting or making inaudible noises. To this day she can only string together two word sentences and nearly all are negative such as 'stop it' or 'no more'.This is very shocking I know, but unfortunately it happened. When her mother took Genie and escaped from her father they went to a welfare office. Genie was thought to be autistic until her mother explained everything. She was cared for for months in intensive care. her father committed suicide shortly after Genie was found. She underwent much psychotherapy but unfortunately is still unable to comprehend the English language and even struggles to walk properly.
Not sure what this will link to regarding a story from The Bloody Chamber collection though.
Wednesday, 9 May 2012
The Key Elements of Gothic
In my opinion there are about five main key features of Gothic texts that are prominent and reoccurring.
1. Sex - You really can't escape sex in Gothic literature. Dracula; sexual imagery is in abundance such as Freud's theory about the tree's representing penis's and walking up and down the stairs representing intercourse. Not to mention the brides or the scene in the abbey. In The Bloody Chamber collection, the idea of sex is very prominent; the mirrors 'twelve husbands impaling twelve brides'. Puss in Boots; 'I gave her the obligatory few thrusts'. The Snow Child; 'he thrust his virile member' need I go on?
2. Punishment - Dracula; Lucy is punished for being a little bit on the flirty side, Harker is punished (by the visits from the brides and by becoming trapped in the castle) for sleeping somewhere else in the castle besides his bedroom. Dr Faustus; quite obviously, Faustus is ultimately punished by the Devil for selling his soul in the first place. The Bloody Chamber; The Marquise gets punished for going into the Marquis' room by nearly being decapitated.
3. Death - Probably on a parr with sex in Gothic literature. Dracula; people have to die in order for the vampires to live. Lucy dies twice. In Faustus, the doctor dies in the end, but he also has a flare for necromancy with the whole bringing Helen of Troy temporarily back to life. And in The Bloody Chamber, it's everywhere. The Marquis' museum of wives, The Lady of The House of Love has plenty of death- lads die for her to live.
Other Gothic elements such as the corruption of religion are also prominent but not as obvious as those above.
1. Sex - You really can't escape sex in Gothic literature. Dracula; sexual imagery is in abundance such as Freud's theory about the tree's representing penis's and walking up and down the stairs representing intercourse. Not to mention the brides or the scene in the abbey. In The Bloody Chamber collection, the idea of sex is very prominent; the mirrors 'twelve husbands impaling twelve brides'. Puss in Boots; 'I gave her the obligatory few thrusts'. The Snow Child; 'he thrust his virile member' need I go on?
2. Punishment - Dracula; Lucy is punished for being a little bit on the flirty side, Harker is punished (by the visits from the brides and by becoming trapped in the castle) for sleeping somewhere else in the castle besides his bedroom. Dr Faustus; quite obviously, Faustus is ultimately punished by the Devil for selling his soul in the first place. The Bloody Chamber; The Marquise gets punished for going into the Marquis' room by nearly being decapitated.
3. Death - Probably on a parr with sex in Gothic literature. Dracula; people have to die in order for the vampires to live. Lucy dies twice. In Faustus, the doctor dies in the end, but he also has a flare for necromancy with the whole bringing Helen of Troy temporarily back to life. And in The Bloody Chamber, it's everywhere. The Marquis' museum of wives, The Lady of The House of Love has plenty of death- lads die for her to live.
Other Gothic elements such as the corruption of religion are also prominent but not as obvious as those above.
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