THE BLOODY CHAMBER
THE COURTSHIP OF MR LYON.
THE COURTSHIP OF MR LYON.
3. The girl is described as pale, to an almost unhealthy degree, and pure girl. She's described as "pallor remained" "she,too, was made of snow" pallor is rarely ever used to describe someone who is healthy, it is used more often to describe someone who is extremely pale, almost deathly pale. She's also described as "white and unmarked as a spilled bolt of bridal satin" indicating towards her being a virgin as well as completely pure. The implication of this description is that she is extremely pure and very beautiful, the 'perfect' wife. This is developed by the Girl almost losing her purity once her father becomes rich and she becomes corrupt and 'less' beautiful. This is also developed by her later marriage to the beast once she seems to realise what she was losing and she remembers her promise, so she rushes back to him.
4. The father is first described as wearing an "old sheepskin coat" suggesting that he is relativity poor and has been for a while, as sheepskin is considered poor quality as a coat, combined with "old" suggesting that he has had it for a long portion of time. This relates to the court case we later learn that the father has been waging for many years to try and regain his wealth, though never directly told, it is suggested that he lost the money in either risky ventures or by gambling. The father is described as having "another whiskey" considering how strong whiskey is, this suggests that the father is under a large amount of stress, despite just being rescued by the owner of the manor, the beast. "the garden seemed to hold its breath in apprehension. But still, because he loved his daughter, Beauty's father stole the rose." This seems to suggest that Beauty's father does not have the strongest morals, as despite knowing it is stealing and could easily go badly, which it does, he steals the flower for Beauty. This again gives more clues as to how he may have lost his once large wealth, as if he has few or weak morals he could have lost the wealth in long-term gambling.
7. Mr Lyon's property is described in a heavily Gothic manner "a miniature, perfect palladian house that seemed to hide itself shyly behind snow-laden skirts", with many Gothic conventions such as a seemingly abandoned Manor house, yet it has the crystals containing flowers, the Gold clean knocker and the single light in an upper room of the Manor house. It's described in this way as a direct comparison to where Beauty lives a small house where she, a tenant and daughter of the owner, is the servant and maid doing chores. Where as Beast lives in a Manor that appears to belong in age past, (16th century)
11. The story is narrated in the third-person, but it occasionally uses first person perspective to narrate the story. The change in narrative perspective affects the reader, with the use of first person narrative, to give the reader an insight into the character and their thoughts "father said he would be home before nightfall", "I hope he'll be safe.". These bits of first person narrative (some of the only first person narrative in the novel) show us Beauty's care for her father and a deep insight into her and her personality.
12. The occasion of direct speech on pages 44-45 is of the speech from the mechanic and Beauty's father. There is a change at this point in the story to give an impression of the "master" who we learn to be the Beast. It gives the reader the impression of the "master" as a charitable, be it mysterious, person. It influences the light through which we later see the Beast, as this sets the readers first impression of him.
The use of direct speech on pages 50-51 occurs in two places "all he is doing is kissing my hands" and "you will come back to me? it will be lonely here, without you
These two uses of direct speech show Beauty's changing feelings towards Beast and the continuation and confirmation of Beast's feelings towards Beauty. Beauty's realisation that Beast is kissing her hand, shows the reader her change in how she views Beast, less of how his name describes him, but more as a person with emotions and feelings, showing us the first change in her interactions, which continues,towards him.
Beast's wish for her to return soon confirms to the reader and adoration he has for Beauty, causing the reader to become sympathetic and pity Beast over Beauty's leaving.
13. Beauty goes through a large personality change from when she lives in the mean "household" where she is described as pale and innocent "she,too,was made of snow" as well as humble as shown by her doing "her chores in the 'mean' kitchen.". Alongside her financial changes, her personality goes through a similar change from humble too " a spoiled child" who becomes "a mite petulant" when things don't go her way, a far cry from a humble young girl doing chores in the kitchen. She also changes not just in her personality but in her appearance going from pale and innocent too, her "pearly skin of hers was plumping out.". Overall these show that just as her surroundings change so does her personality, as if becoming corrupted by the wealth and decadence (Marxist critical perspective)
15. The Beast helps Beauty and her Father because he is in love with Beauty and wishes to impress and make a good impression upon her, as well as keep her with him, as long as possible. Beauty saves the Beast because she finally realises she loves him. Overall the reason they help each other is because they care and love each other and will do whatever is necessary for each other. Carters overall message about their actions is that if people try their hardest, love will conquer all.
16. Beauty's transformation in London. Beauty's transformation from how she was when she lived in her old home or with the Beast to how she becomes when she goes to London and her father showers gifts and money upon her. Beauty starts out as pale,innocent "she, too, was made of snow" and humble "pauses in her chores in the mean kitchen" girl, but transforms almost into a different person when she goes to London. Beauty stops being humble being described as becoming "a spoiled child" who becomes "a mite petulant when things went not quite the way she wanted them too" and instead of a beautiful pale girl she changes "that pearly skin of hers was plumping out.". The way her change is described it is as if the very city itself has corrupted Beauty and changed her for the worse.
11. The story is narrated in the third-person, but it occasionally uses first person perspective to narrate the story. The change in narrative perspective affects the reader, with the use of first person narrative, to give the reader an insight into the character and their thoughts "father said he would be home before nightfall", "I hope he'll be safe.". These bits of first person narrative (some of the only first person narrative in the novel) show us Beauty's care for her father and a deep insight into her and her personality.
12. The occasion of direct speech on pages 44-45 is of the speech from the mechanic and Beauty's father. There is a change at this point in the story to give an impression of the "master" who we learn to be the Beast. It gives the reader the impression of the "master" as a charitable, be it mysterious, person. It influences the light through which we later see the Beast, as this sets the readers first impression of him.
The use of direct speech on pages 50-51 occurs in two places "all he is doing is kissing my hands" and "you will come back to me? it will be lonely here, without you
These two uses of direct speech show Beauty's changing feelings towards Beast and the continuation and confirmation of Beast's feelings towards Beauty. Beauty's realisation that Beast is kissing her hand, shows the reader her change in how she views Beast, less of how his name describes him, but more as a person with emotions and feelings, showing us the first change in her interactions, which continues,towards him.
Beast's wish for her to return soon confirms to the reader and adoration he has for Beauty, causing the reader to become sympathetic and pity Beast over Beauty's leaving.
13. Beauty goes through a large personality change from when she lives in the mean "household" where she is described as pale and innocent "she,too,was made of snow" as well as humble as shown by her doing "her chores in the 'mean' kitchen.". Alongside her financial changes, her personality goes through a similar change from humble too " a spoiled child" who becomes "a mite petulant" when things don't go her way, a far cry from a humble young girl doing chores in the kitchen. She also changes not just in her personality but in her appearance going from pale and innocent too, her "pearly skin of hers was plumping out.". Overall these show that just as her surroundings change so does her personality, as if becoming corrupted by the wealth and decadence (Marxist critical perspective)
15. The Beast helps Beauty and her Father because he is in love with Beauty and wishes to impress and make a good impression upon her, as well as keep her with him, as long as possible. Beauty saves the Beast because she finally realises she loves him. Overall the reason they help each other is because they care and love each other and will do whatever is necessary for each other. Carters overall message about their actions is that if people try their hardest, love will conquer all.
16. Beauty's transformation in London. Beauty's transformation from how she was when she lived in her old home or with the Beast to how she becomes when she goes to London and her father showers gifts and money upon her. Beauty starts out as pale,innocent "she, too, was made of snow" and humble "pauses in her chores in the mean kitchen" girl, but transforms almost into a different person when she goes to London. Beauty stops being humble being described as becoming "a spoiled child" who becomes "a mite petulant when things went not quite the way she wanted them too" and instead of a beautiful pale girl she changes "that pearly skin of hers was plumping out.". The way her change is described it is as if the very city itself has corrupted Beauty and changed her for the worse.
Could his 'sheepskin coat' not also be a metaphor for his status as a 'victim'?
ReplyDeleteThe remainder of your responses demonstrate focus and some degree of insight. The challenge now is to make connections to either the gothic or to marxism/feminism. Select one of your responses above to improve by making these links.