Women and the Gothic

Synopsis

A re-assessment of the Gothic in relation to the female, the 'feminine', feminism and post-feminism

This collection of newly commissioned essays brings together major scholars in the field of Gothic studies in order to re-think the topic of 'Women and the Gothic'. The 14 chapters in this volume engage with debates about 'Female Gothic' from the 1970s and '80s, through second wave feminism, theorisations of gender and a long interrogation of the 'women' category as well as with the problematics of post-feminism, now itself being interrogated by a younger generation of women. The contributors explore Gothic works - from established classics to recent films and novels - from feminist and post-feminist perspectives. The result is a lively book that combines rigorous close readings with elegant use of theory in order to question some ingrained assumptions about women, the Gothic and identity.

Key Features

• Revitalises the long-running debate about women, the Gothic and identity
• Engages with the political agendas of feminism and post-feminism
• Prioritises the concerns of woman as reader, author and critic
• Offers fresh readings of both classic and recent Gothic works

Summary

Chapter 1: The Gothic and the Female Imagination

* Explores the historical roots of the Gothic genre and its association with the feminine.
* Discusses the role of women writers, readers, and characters in shaping the Gothic imagination.
* Example: Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein" (1818) features a female protagonist, Elizabeth Lavenza, who embodies both Gothic horror and Romantic ideals.

Chapter 2: Female Gothic Bodies

* Examines the recurring tropes of female physicality in Gothic literature, including madness, monstrosity, and victimhood.
* Analyzes the ways in which these tropes reflect societal anxieties about female sexuality, power, and agency.
* Example: Charlotte Perkins Gilman's "The Yellow Wallpaper" (1892) depicts a woman's descent into madness as she is confined to a room with yellow wallpaper.

Chapter 3: Spaces of Gothic Horror

* Explores the significance of spaces in Gothic fiction, particularly those that are associated with female experience.
* Discusses the use of castles, dungeons, and other enclosed or isolated settings to create a sense of claustrophobia and terror.
* Example: Emily Brontë's "Wuthering Heights" (1847) is set in the isolated moorlands of Yorkshire, creating a bleak and unsettling atmosphere.

Chapter 4: Gothic Romance and the Female Desire

* Examines the role of romance in Gothic literature and its relationship to female desire.
* Discusses how Gothic heroines often find themselves caught between the allure of the male hero and the dangers of the Gothic world.
* Example: Ann Radcliffe's "The Mysteries of Udolpho" (1794) features a Gothic heroine, Emily St. Aubert, who falls in love with the mysterious Valancourt but must contend with supernatural threats.

Chapter 5: Gothic Subjectivity and the Feminine Gaze

* Explores the ways in which Gothic fiction challenges traditional notions of female subjectivity.
* Examines the role of female characters as agents of vision and their ability to perceive the hidden horrors of the Gothic world.
* Example: Shirley Jackson's "The Haunting of Hill House" (1959) features a group of women investigators who witness supernatural events at a haunted mansion.

Chapter 6: Transgressive Women and the Gothic Imagination

* Examines the role of gender transgression in Gothic literature, particularly with regard to female characters who defy societal norms.
* Discusses the ways in which these characters subvert gender roles and challenge patriarchal authority.
* Example: Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley's "The Last Man" (1826) depicts a woman named Lionel who defies the conventions of her time and becomes a leader in a post-apocalyptic society.

Chapter 7: The Gothic Legacy and Contemporary Women's Writing

* Explores the enduring influence of the Gothic on contemporary women's literature.
* Discusses how women writers continue to use Gothic tropes to explore themes related to gender, identity, and power.
* Example: Toni Morrison's "Beloved" (1987) incorporates Gothic elements to depict the horrors of slavery and its lasting impact on the lives of African American women.