Write about how you can categorise 'The Bloody Chamber' as a piece of gothic fiction? How is it different from the other texts?

• 'The Bloody Chamber' is set in the Marquis's castle, a typical Gothic setting - 'that castle, at home neither on the land nor on the water, a mysterious, amphibious place' >> this shows how isolated the female narrator will soon be and creates a foreboding atmosphere for the reader as the heroine has nowhere to run.
• The action in Macbeth also takes place in a Castle which reinforces the idea that Castle's are very isolated and whatever evil that occurs inside, is hidden by the thick inpenetrable walls.
• Prolepsis and foreshadowing are also features of Gothic novels and Carter uses this to create an an atmosphere of suspense right from the start as 'opals are bad luck' and the fact that 'his wedding gift, clasped round my throat. A choker of rubies, two inches wide, like an extroadanarily precious slit throat.' >> this quote foreshadows the very near decapitiation of the girl which is hinted at by Carter's use of the words 'clasped' and 'slit'.
• In Frankenstein, Shelley uses prolepsis effectively too, frequently hinting 'an omen...of my future misery'.
• Temptation features heavily in all three texts - Macbeth is tempted by the Witches prophecy when he hears that 'thou shalt be king hereafter' and longs for power, Frankenstein 'ardently desired the aqusition of knowledge' and desires to learn and in 'The Bloody Chamber' the Marquis delibarately leaves on a business trip saying 'everywhere is open to you - except the lock that this single key fits'. Is the Marquis testing the obedience of his new wife? It certainly causes the reader to question that, if she had not given in to temptation, would she have discovered 'The Bloody Chamber'? Did the all of his wives suffer the same fate? Carter uses foreshadwing again as the Marquis likes to 'savour the rare pleasure of imagining myself wifeless'.
• 'burst into a tumult of sobbing that contained both pity for his other victims and also a dreadful anguish to know I, too, was one of them.' >> this links to the Gothic idea of women in distress and that women are often threatened by a powerful male. Emotionally, I think the girl is one of his victims as she has been somewhat corrupted and now has a 'tainted innocence', but physically she has not as she still hopes for escape.
• In Macbeth there is a recurring theme of blood which stains the whole play and there is the iconic scene with Lady Macbeth washing her hands 'out damned spot!' and yet the blood is not fading. Carter has done something remarkably similar in 'The Bloody Chamber' using 'the key was still caked with wet blood...I scrubbed the stain with my nail brush but still it would not budge...the more I scrubbed, the more vivid grew the stain...and still the bloodstain mocked the fresh water.' >> the seemingly never-ending flow of blood could represent how the horrific events will stay with her forever. Carter shows how frantic the girl is well by constantly referring to the blood on the key.
• 'The Bloody Chamber' has a happy ending,' now without a moment's hesitation, she raised my father's gun, took aim and put a single, irreproachable bullet through my husbands head', which contradicts the very Gothic nature of the story as a whole. However, Carter was influenced by fairy tales so it is possible that the people in 'The Bloody Chamber' deserve their stereotypical happily ever after.
• The final sentence shows further shows that she will never forget was has happened to her ' no paint nor powder, no matter how thick or white, can mask that red mark on my forehead: I am glad he cannot see it it - not for fear of his revulsion, since I know he see's me clearly with his heart - but, because it spares my shame'. The red mark represents the fact that she is a victim and has played his game. Having the money also shows that she was bought, so in giving away the money it is like she is rejecting his hold over her. I think it is significant that the Piano Tuner is blind and therefore he cannot see the final, everlasting image of her corruption.