The Bloody Chamber - Intertextual References
Bluebeard - The Myth:
"Bluebeard is the villain in a European folktale made famous by Charles Perrault in his tale Barbe bleue. According to the story, Bluebeard married several women, one after the other, and murdered each of them. He threw their bodies in a special room inside his castle. He married yet again and gave his new bride the keys to the castle, telling her that she might go anywhere in the castle except for that one room. While Bluebeard was away, however, his young wife's curiosity got the better of her and she opened the door to the forbidden room. There she discovered the remains of Bluebeard's previous wives. When Bluebeard returned, he realized that his wife had found out his secret and told her that she must prepare to die.
The story has several different endings. In one version, the young wife killed Bluebeard with his own sword. In another, her brothers came to her rescue and killed him. The theme of the story of Bluebeard—the penalty for being too curious—appears in the folktales of many countries."
[source: http://www.mythencyclopedia.com/Be-Ca/Bluebeard.html]
The myth of Bluebeard is heavily seen in Angela Carter's first short story in The Bloody Chamber. However even though the story remains the same and the general essence of what Carter is telling us could be examined to be the same message as the folklore, you can also see it from the perspective that she is writing these short stories in a 'postmodern feminist gothic' context and even though the story is the same; at the end of the day she wants us to look deeper into it to see the story from her feminist way of thinking.
Mark of Cain:
"The nature of the mark on Cain has been the subject of much debate and speculation. The Hebrew word translated "mark" is 'owth and refers to a “mark, sign, or token.” Elsewhere in the Hebrew Scriptures, 'owth is used 79 times and is most frequently translated as "sign." So, the Hebrew word does not identify the exact nature of the mark God put on Cain. Whatever it was, it was a sign/indicator that Cain was not to be killed. Some propose that the mark was a scar, or some kind of tattoo. Whatever the case, the precise nature of the mark is not the focus of the passage. The focus is that God would not allow people to exact vengeance against Cain. Whatever the mark on Cain was, it served this purpose."
[source: http://www.gotquestions.org/mark-Cain.html]
The phrase Mark of Cain is used within the context of The Bloody Chamber, the narrator is said to have the Mark of Cain put upon her. From reading up about this it is clear to see that this mark that Carter refers to is a sign that the Marquis cannot kill her because he will "suffer vengeance seven times over", which is in fact the case because of the fact that he gets killed by the narrator's mother.
Catherine de Medici:
"Some historians have excused Catherine from blame for the worst decisions of the crown, though evidence for her ruthlessness can be found in her letters. In practice, her authority was always limited by the effects of the civil wars. Her policies, therefore, may be seen as desperate measures to keep the Valois monarchy on the throne at all costs, and her patronage of the arts as an attempt to glorify a monarchy whose prestige was in steep decline. Without Catherine, it is unlikely that her sons would have remained in power."
[source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catherine_de'_Medici]
Catherine de Medici is referenced in the story of the Bloody Chamber when the narrator is talking about the "old nurse" being jealous and trying to bad mouth the Marquis which the narrator does not appreciate. They are talking about the ring that the Marquis had given to the narrator and the fact that it had been passed down from the likes of Catherine de Medici. She is known to have been very ruthless and controlling, possibly showing that the Marquis would have the same character.
Croesus:
"In Greek and Persian cultures the name of Croesus became a synonym for a wealthy man. Croesus' wealth remained proverbial beyond classical antiquity: in English, expressions such as "rich as Croesus" or "richer than Croesus" are used to indicate great wealth to this day."
[source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Croesus]
In the text of The Bloody Chamber, there is mention on page 5 that the Marquis is as 'rich as Croesus', this indicates that the Marquis is incredibly wealthy. This has been a saying for many years to be a common phrase used to describe a wealthy man.
Tristan and Isolde (opera):
"Tristan und Isolde (Tristan and Isolde) is an opera in three acts by Richard Wagner. As always, Wagner wrote the words for the opera himself. He took the famous old legend which had been told by the German poet Gottfried von Strassburg.
Wagner composed the opera between 1857 and 1859. It was first performed, with Hans von Bülow conducting, in Munich on 10 June 1865. Many musicians think it is the greatest opera of the 19th century. Wagner’s dramatic handling of the story had enormous influence on many composers of the time. His harmonies were also an extremely important development in the language of Romantic music. Not everybody liked it. In particular, the music critic Eduard Hanslick said that he could not understand it.
The story of Tristan and Isolde was one of the great romances of the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. Several poets told the story, and each told it slightly differently. The themes of chivalry and courtly love are always there."
[source: http://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tristan_und_Isolde]
In The Bloody Chamber, the narrator says that the Marquis took her and her mother to see this opera. It being a classic love story and her description that she 'must truly love him'. It shows that the Marquis is probably leading her on into believing that he is a true gentleman, or she is seeing him through rose tinted lenses. Also the woman in the opera, Isolde, dies young in it and it is seen as a tragedy. This could also foreshadow that this is what is going to happen to the young narrator.
Felicien Rops(artist):
"Félicien Rops (1833 – 1898) was a Belgian artist and printmaker, as well as a founding member of the Société Libre des Beaux-Arts in Brussels. He began his career whilst still a student, drawing satirical caricatures of politicians and public figures which were published in a student newspaper. He later formed a deeply significant friendship with Charles Baudelaire, and created a frontispiece for the poet’s ‘Les Épaves’. Rops is considered to be a Symbolist."
[source: http://www.bookdrum.com/books/the-bloody-chamber/9780099588115/bookmarks.html]
The reference shows the symbolic nature of the story and how they relate to Rops work. The reference, on page 11, shows that the work of Rops was something that intrigued Carter and also because Rops etched a lot of naked and vulnerable women in dreary landscapes. It means that the narrator is also on show and vulnerable to the Marquis and what he stands for.
Huysmans’ Là-Bas(novel):
"Joris-Karl Huysmans (1848-1907) was a French writer, famous for the novel ‘À rebours’ as well as ‘Là-Bas’. His work was considered to be quite decadent and perverse, with great attention given to sensual description and themes such as homosexuality and Satanism being given attention. Originally interested in the Naturalist style of writing, Huysmans later became more aligned to the Symbolists; he was also inspired by his return to the Catholic church in later life."
" ‘Là-Bas’ was published in 1891, and soon became banned in some places. The disillusioned protagonist, Durtal, researches the practice of Satanism in contemporary France, finding that it is still very much in existence. He comes to this discovery through first reading about the life of the 15th Century murderer, Gilles de Rais, who is himself a highly significant figure for our purposes; he has long been thought to be a model for the fairy tale ‘Bluebeard’, which in turn is a clear influence of ‘The Bloody Chamber’."
[source: http://www.bookdrum.com/books/the-bloody-chamber/9780099588115/bookmarks.html]
The use of this reference in The Bloody Chamber, page 11, could indicate the inspiration behind this character of the Marquis and what he is really about. The Bloody Chamber is inspired by the story of Bluebeard so the mention of this author and his novel is almost an unsubtle technique of telling us this.
Grand Guignol:
"Established in Pigalle in 1897 - in an abandoned church, no less - it specialised in amoral, highly naturalistic horror shows. This evolved out of some Elizabethan and Jacobean theatre, Titus Andronicus being a famous example. Its founder was Oscar Méténier, a writer and director, who wanted to produce plays exploring the darkest themes and characters of society. This developed into horror by the early 20th Century, largely thanks to director Max Maurey and playwright André de Lorde."
[source: http://www.bookdrum.com/books/the-bloody-chamber/9780099588115/bookmarks.html]
This reference also indicates the horror that is filling the house that the Marquis lives in. The reference, page 24, shows a postcard that the Marquis sent the narrator and shows the horror of these shows that were produced in the 19th century.
Rape of the Sabines:
"The Rape of the Sabine Women is an episode in the legendary history of Rome, traditionally dated to 750 BC, in which the first generation of Roman men acquired wives for themselves from the neighboring Sabine families. The English word rape is a conventional translation of the Latin raptio, which in this context means "abduction" rather than its prevalent modern meaning in English language of sexual violation."
[source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Rape_of_the_Sabine_Women]
This reference is shown when the narrator is walking down the corridor on her way to the forbidden room. This use of this particular tapestry on the wall signifies that the Marquis may not be all that he seems and if he seems to enjoy and 'appreciate' the rape or abduction of a lot of women then that does truly show his true character and what he plans to do with the narrator. The use of this picture and reference in the corridor on the way to the forbidden room also indicates that this is something that he may have done, or at least something similar, to his previous wives.
St Cecilia:
"Saint Cecilia is a martyred Saint who is reported to have lived in the 2nd Century AD. The most popular account of her life holds that she was killed in Sicily during the reign of Marcus Aurelius; she is meant to have been executed for her Christian faith alongside her husband Valerian, and his brother Tiburtius. Famous elements of her story include her instructions that her home be kept as a church, as she left to go and face her death. Attempts by officials to execute Cecilia all subsequently failed; they attempted to decapitate her three times. She was severely wounded, and survived for another three days before passing away. She was said to have died singing praises to God, which is why she was later made the patron saint of musicians."
[source: http://www.bookdrum.com/books/the-bloody-chamber/9780099588115/bookmarks.html]
This reference as well also foreshadows the impending doom that seems to be following the narrator around. The fact that Saint Cecilia was nearly assassinated three times, indicates that the Marquis will stop at nothing to try and kill his wives.
Pandora’s box:
"Today the phrase "to open Pandora's box" means to perform an action that may seem small or innocent, but that turns out to have severely detrimental and far-reaching consequences."
[source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pandora's_box]
This could signify when the Narrator opened the locked room. This was the moment when she discovered the Marquis' secret and saw him for who is truly is. This was the turning point in the story and the moment she loses her innocence.
Poiret:
"Though perhaps best known for freeing women from corsets (although he did not single-handedly accomplish this revolution) and for such startling inventions as the hobble skirt, "harem" pant, and "lampshade" tunic, Poiret's major contribution to fashion was his development of the dressmaking technique known as draping, a departure from the tailoring and pattern-making of the past. Poiret was influenced by antique and regional dress, and favored clothing cut along straight lines and constructed of rectangular motifs. The structural simplicity of his clothing represented a "pivotal moment in the emergence of modernism" generally, and "effectively established the paradigm of modern fashion, irrevocably changing the direction of costume history."
[source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Poiret]
The Narrator in The Bloody Chamber is said to have worn a dress made by this fashion designer when she went to the opera. He was a very expensive designer back in the day as "The cheapest garment...was 30 guineas, double the annual salary of a scullery maid." This shows that the Marquis or the narrator herself must have bought this to show the wealth that was exuding from either the Marquis or the narrator. Either way, this dress and the mention of it shows extreme wealth.
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