Contextualizing Bluebeard Patriarchy through Grotesque- Feminism and Sexuality in Angela Carter’s Shadow Dance and Heroes and Villains

Abstract

The purpose of this research paper is to bring awareness to the students of post-colonial fiction of Angela Carter. She won Nobel Prize for literature for her revolutionary feminism and deconstruction of patriarchy. Carter gives the image of the wolf to characterize the monstrous quality of his Bluebeards in her novels. The wolf is a deadly; in each plot of her novels there is a deadly conflict between wolf and the dove. Carter uses all the elements of the Gothic novels of Mrs. Anne Redcliff to create an atmosphere of horror and supernaturalism. The forces of darkness are in tune with the threatening atmosphere of the novel symbolizing death and destruction. Carter has used this tool in her short stories The Bloody Chamber as well. Carter uses the images of mirror, snow, blood, moon, fire, forest and old castles to depict the presence of her Bluebeards symbolic of bloodthirsty traditional patriarchy. In this study the main issues of sexuality of women, gender discrimination are investigated in detail.