The Bloody Chamber: AS & A2 York Notes

Carter interweaves existing stories with her new ones, inviting the reader to question the purpose of these tales and assumptions about social and individual behaviour.

Carter explores issues of class and power in older and current societies, with particular emphasis on female sexuality and independence.

"The Bloody Chamber" can be seen as a Gothic text: features include the supernatural, extreme emotions and sensations and typically medieval castles and woods hiding horror and fear.

Carter is interested in social change and individual empowerment, so her tales explore class, politics, social conventions and morality.

Carter is interested in how people understand a complex and uncertain world, so her tales explore the ambiguity, language and subversion of conventions.