Attracted to Monsters: Women’s Desire and Queer Traces in Frankenstein and Carmilla
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Dosyalar
Tarih
2023
Yazarlar
Dergi Başlığı
Dergi ISSN
Cilt Başlığı
Yayıncı
Kapadokya Üniversitesi, Lisansüstü Eğitim, Öğretim ve Araştırma Enstitüsü
Erişim Hakkı
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
Özet
Drawing upon gender and queer studies, the aim of this thesis is to explore how human and nonhuman relations unravel a liminal space in which new subjectivity might be born. In examining these relations, the study might create an expanded understanding of homosexuality to illustrate the overstepping of certain borders or the blending and overlapping a series of classifications, as well as portraying a self-identification process. Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein (1818) and Sheridan Le Fanu’s Carmilla (1872) respectively depict how attraction to and fear of the nonhuman are juxtaposed in terms of desires, be it monstrous or sexual. In this sense, Shelley’s and Le Fanu’s monsters will be analyzed as they constantly lure their human partners, as well as being stalkers who chase their victims until one of the parties’ death. The human and nonhuman partners, being the same sexes in both works, will be interpreted as queer with certain situational examples and quotations from the texts. Women’s sexual desires will be also read as a pushing power to queerness. In Frankenstein, the chastity and passiveness of women will be underlined and the indifference towards women by Victor will be seen as a factor which makes him turn to other studies of interest so that he creates his own desire of science which results in the birth of the monster. In Carmilla, on the other hand, the unleashing of Carmilla’s sexual power will be seen as the driving force for the two young ladies to pursue a queer romantic path. In the introduction, the theme of queerness in gothic literature will be explored from the perspective of lesbian feminism and queer theory. Queerness will be read as a recurring theme in gothic literature as an eerie motif that is considered as something to be avoided and escaped from. In the first chapter, Shelley’s Frankenstein will be reinterpreted with the analysis of the women characters and the relationship between Victor Frankenstein and his creature. What this study will demonstrate is that Dr Frankenstein’s uneasy attraction to the monstrous creature might be considered as “queer” and the motif of women’s desire as the driving force. In other words, female characters’ suppressed desires will be demonstrated as the driving force to queerness. These characters will be such as but not limited to Elizabeth and Mrs. Frankenstein. In the second chapter, Le Fanu’s Carmilla will be examined with regard to lesbian feminism and queer theory. The characters will be analyzed in accordance to their sexual desires, and the romantic relationship between Laura and Carmilla will be evaluated and again will be found as queer. Female characters’ sexual tendencies will be scrutinized and identified as overpowered and unleashed in Carmilla’s case though being propulsive force to lesbianism. After the analyses of the works, there will be a comparison of the homosexual attractions in Frankenstein and Carmilla and how these works portray the attraction of a monster will be shown. It will be concluded that the sexual orientation of the characters, their interest to the nonhuman and certain parallel motifs in the novels point out the queerness of the works. The empowerment of women’s desires will be also found repressed in the first work, whereas this is unleashed in the latter although giving the same result that is queerness.
Açıklama
Anahtar Kelimeler
Carmilla, Frankenstein, Women Studies, Queer Theory, Lesbian/Gay Studies
Kaynak
WoS Q Değeri
Scopus Q Değeri
Cilt
Sayı
Künye
LEBE WATSON, Zeynep. Attracted to Monsters: Women’s Desire and Queer Traces in Frankenstein and Carmilla, Master’s Thesis, Nevşehir, 2023.
