Gothic, Gender, and Power in Charlotte Brontë’s Villette
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Abstract
This article focuses on gender power dynamics in relation to Gothic elements found in Charlotte Brontë’s Villette. The intricate and shifting dynamic relationship of Gothic elements, gender, and power in Villette underlie what might be seen as sexual oppression. According to Craig (2012), different perspectives on Victorian culture which found in Gothic novels could reflect some cultures of oppression, such as the image of women as the inferior sex. Some people might see Gothic literature as depicting women’s oppression in a patriarchal society. However, this article sees it as a productive way of deconstructing gender power structure on the intersections of Gothic elements, gender, and power.
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