The Snow Child Angela Carter

Keywords/concepts Immaculate Coldness Bloodthirstiness Fatality Raven – icon of gothic literature/ mythic/Poe’s The Raven Patriarchy - shaping women into men’s desires Symbols – clothing/jewellery, rose

The Snow Child "The Snow Child, as its chilling title suggests, is a stark, uncompromising tale of sexuality as a function of overwhelming male power" Mary Kaiser: Fairy tale as sexual allegory: Intertextuality in Angela Carter's The Bloody Chamber. Review of Contemporary Fiction (1994).

The Countess Black Horse Glittering pelts of black foxes High, black, shining boots with scarlet heels and spurs Gloves Diamond brooch

The Count “I wish I had a girl as white as snow.” “I wish I had a girl as red as blood.” “I wish I had a girl as black as that bird’s feather.” Reversal of traditional fairy tale desire – usually it is the mother figure who wishes for a child. DISCUSS: Sinister undertone – Why does the Count want a child? Compare that desire to a woman’s want for a child. The Fickle Nature of Man: Man is obsessed with only a woman’s appearance and wants variety/multiple partners.

The Rivalry of Women The Countess feels threatened by the Snow Child She seeks to destroy the Snow Child Countess sees the Snow Child as a sexual rival The only way for the Countess to survive is to please her man (reflects societal hierarchy of men over women) Countess wins the rivalry through sympathy but still witnesses infidelity (The Count deflowers the corpse) Restoration of her clothes (her material appearance/status as the Count’s trophy) reassures her of her security

The Count’s Omnipotence The Count has the power to create what he wishes for. (He wishes for a child and the Snow Child appears). He is able to dress/undress women at will. He cannot deny the Countess a rose. WHY? Male Fantasy – The Count’s creation and dressing/undressing of the women reflects man’s sexual fantasy revolving around the appearance/costume of the feminine form. It is only outward beauty that stimulates men. Only when adornments/costumes are removed is a man able to experience empathy. This is shown when the Count reclothes the Countess.

Necrophilia The Count cannot accept the loss of his fantasy without having the opportunity of deflowering her. Therefore, the Count defiles the corpse of the Snow Child to satisfy his dark sexual desires. Once his fantasy is fulfilled, the Snow Child’s corpse disappears. This reflects that man’s desires are changeable and, once fulfilled, will alter. The female is nothing more than something to dominate and exploit. DISCUSS – Why does the Count ‘weep’ at the death of The Snow Child.

The Rose “So the girl picks a rose; pricks her finger on the thorn; bleeds; screams; falls.” DISCUSS: Why and how does the rose kill the Snow Child? “It bites!” she said. (The Countess) DISCUSS: What does the rose represent? The rose represents the female genitalia. When the Snow Child bleeds it represents her ‘coming-of-age’ or first menstruation. The Countess does not want the rose because it serves as a reminder of sexual pain inflicted upon her by the Count. The Count sees the rose as a thing of beauty (it reminds him of the female sexual organ) but the Countess sees the vaginal symbol as a reminder of pain and danger. Although the rose represents the same object to both the Count and Countess, the emotion stirred by that symbol is utterly contrasting.

Further exploration of ‘The Snow Child.’ Thursday 10th March Further exploration of ‘The Snow Child.’

The Opening Line “MIDWINTER – INVINCIBLE, IMMACULATE.” DISCUSS: Why has Carter employed capital letters for her three opening words? DISCUSS: What is INVINCIBLE and IMMACULATE? MIDWINTER could be a metaphor of the state of the Count’s desire towards the Countess – their relationship has grown dull to him and he has becoming sexually disinterested. Sexual Fantasies are, however, INVINCIBLE and constant. Fantasies always pan out exactly as the fantasist would desire. Fantasies circumvent reality. Fantasies are perfectly imagined and therefore IMMACULATE.

Essay question “Carter explores base instincts rather than subconscious desires.” Consider at least two stories from The Bloody Chamber in the light of this comment. (40 marks)

Comparison of responses Each table has been given a sample response for this essay. Read and annotate looking for: A01, AO2, AO3, AO4 Highlight useful arguments to share with the group.