SEX AND VIOLENCE ARE INEXTRICABLY LINKED IN ‘THE BLOODY CHAMBER’. TO WHAT EXTENT DO YOU AGREE WITH THIS VIEW?
Sex and violence are possibly the two main themes in the story of ‘The Bloody Chamber’. They are closely linked throughout the story, through a variety of writing techniques.
The symbolism of the ‘ruby choker’ is very significant, and it is arguably the key image which links the two themes together. Carter initially presents the ‘slit throat’ to the audience, with some context on the violent meaning behind it – after the Terror, wearing a red ribbon symbolised a wound. In this description, many references are made to beheading, using terms such as ‘blade[…] sliced it through’ and ‘crimson[…] arterial blood’. Considering the intentions of the character of the Marquis, this is greatly foreshadowing and extremely violent. Carter’s writing techniques vary between a lack of description, such as the consummation of the main characters’ marriage, and a lot of description, such as the imagery of the ‘ruby choker’. This is because Carter aims to emphasise the importance of the symbolism of subtle images in her stories, as they provide a lot of meaning and various interpretations.
The ‘ruby choker’ also symbolises sex. The colour imagery of the red rubies does not only symbolise danger, but can be associated with sensuality. The term ‘choker’, on the other hand, can link the two themes through its multiple interpretations. For example, the obvious explanation for choking someone would be to do them harm. However, it is also common, especially in Carter’s stories, for choking to play a part in sex – in fact, the term for ‘orgasm’ in French, translates to ‘a small death’, and as the story is set in France, this becomes very relevant and supports the argument that the two themes are greatly linked. Therefore, when the Marquis ‘made [her] put on [her] choker’ during the consummation of their marriage, it immediately causes the audience to associate sex with the violent image that was initially presented along with ‘ruby choker’.
Furthermore, this link is emphasised to
The symbolism of the ‘ruby choker’ is very significant, and it is arguably the key image which links the two themes together. Carter initially presents the ‘slit throat’ to the audience, with some context on the violent meaning behind it – after the Terror, wearing a red ribbon symbolised a wound. In this description, many references are made to beheading, using terms such as ‘blade[…] sliced it through’ and ‘crimson[…] arterial blood’. Considering the intentions of the character of the Marquis, this is greatly foreshadowing and extremely violent. Carter’s writing techniques vary between a lack of description, such as the consummation of the main characters’ marriage, and a lot of description, such as the imagery of the ‘ruby choker’. This is because Carter aims to emphasise the importance of the symbolism of subtle images in her stories, as they provide a lot of meaning and various interpretations.
The ‘ruby choker’ also symbolises sex. The colour imagery of the red rubies does not only symbolise danger, but can be associated with sensuality. The term ‘choker’, on the other hand, can link the two themes through its multiple interpretations. For example, the obvious explanation for choking someone would be to do them harm. However, it is also common, especially in Carter’s stories, for choking to play a part in sex – in fact, the term for ‘orgasm’ in French, translates to ‘a small death’, and as the story is set in France, this becomes very relevant and supports the argument that the two themes are greatly linked. Therefore, when the Marquis ‘made [her] put on [her] choker’ during the consummation of their marriage, it immediately causes the audience to associate sex with the violent image that was initially presented along with ‘ruby choker’.
Furthermore, this link is emphasised to