The short story “The Bloody Chamber” by Angela Carter includes an abundance of effective conventions for establishing a Gothic setting. The tale is a tragic one, where a young girl's innate curiosity inevitably finds her in danger. Published in the late 20th century, at a time when Gothic writing was less prominent in literature, the tale could be said to be quite progressive in the genre, with its underlying critique of patriarchal society. being a particularly common theme in Gothic writing. However, being set in the 3rd Republic in France, an era known for corruption and hedonism, and the use of classical Gothic elements in this passage, ensures that a striking Gothic setting is effectively established. to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay The majority of the story takes place at the Marquis's castle, a location where the Gothic setting of the story is particularly important. The location of the castle is extremely remote, it is "cut off from the land by the tide for half a day..." This creates an atmosphere of imprisonment and by including this significant detail, Carter deliberately makes the reader understand that the castle is in hidden from view of the outside world and therefore difficult to escape, which is a key element of the established Gothic framework. The ellipsis used here encourages the reader to think about this detail, as Carter subtly hints that it will be important later in the novel. Indeed, at the end of the novel, the marquises see their mother "galloping at dizzying speed along the causeway, despite the crashing waves", which is significant insofar as the reader realizes with discouragement that if the mother's arrival had taken place even a little later, the castle might have been inaccessible and the marquis might not have survived. The tone of urgency, accentuated by the use of the adjective "dizzying", combined with the randomness of the situation contributes significantly to the Gothic setting through the feeling of panic which resonates both in the protagonist and in the drive. Furthermore, the atmosphere of confinement increases exponentially as the Marquises' journey to the castle progresses, until she reaches the bedroom. Here, she describes being “surrounded by so many mirrors!” » which contributes to the Gothic decor by the atmosphere of suppression that it establishes. The excessive decoration of the room implies a corruption of wealth, common in the era in which the tale takes place; the 3rd Republic in France was known for its decadence, and Carter here critiques this, demonstrating that it gave the wealthy (who were, at the time, almost always men) a way to attract those inferior to them, such as moreover the marquis successfully done to the narrator. Carter emphasizes not only the physical isolation of the Marquises, but also her psychological isolation. This is made explicit by the significant change in narrative tone when the marquesses exclaim “Enough!” No; no more!" clearly conflicted and uncertain about the impending consummation of her marriage. This interior monologue is desperate and frantic as the narrative perspective becomes detached, reinforcing the feeling of psychological isolation as the marquesses are unable to escape this situation Indeed, it is the overwhelming sense of isolation maintained throughout the story that so convincingly establishes a Gothic setting. The Marquis's bedroom is a central part of the tale and its allusions to hell succeed. considerably to establish a gothic setting as the story reaches its climax..