Exploring the Magic Realism of Angela Carter’s Writing

use of mirrors to depict the protagonist's emerging sense of subjectivity. Carter also references Richard Wagner's opera Tristan and Isolde (Notes on Revisionist Fairy Tales). The main character's final comments reveal that she remains a woman in progress, sharing her story as an attempt to absolve herself of shame. Unlike traditional fairy-tale heroines, Carter's female characters possess strength that allows them to save themselves or each other. Desperate circumstances drive her characters beyond the boundaries of conventional fairy tales and into the realm of gothic fantasy. The use of sustained periods of tense emotions further enhances the atmosphere, instilling a sense of pressure and fear.

By incorporating graphic depictions and explicit references to sexuality, the tale can no longer be classified under the traditional fairy tale genre. Through detailed descriptions of Marquis, every word is charged with a menacing quality, leaving readers with unsettling impressions of his character. Additionally, Carter subtly emphasizes the impropriety of the heroine's age difference during her first opera outing by presenting situations rather than figures to underscore the girl's youth and Marquis' maturity.

The protagonist's initial exposure to the opera occurred when she was only a child, albeit Marquis was already wed to his opera singer spouse. Carter utilizes vivid similes and imagery relating to blood and flesh when describing the ruby chocker gifted to Marquis' inexperienced, juvenile wife. Through this technique, a morbid and peculiar atmosphere is evoked, imparting a sense of dread upon the audience. The mention of "the Terror" conjures up images of decapitated aristocrats in our minds, as the dark and red imagery takes us back to the Gothic genre, disrupting the conventional fairytale narrative.

Despite not

always relying on blood to convey fear, Carter utilizes it to demonstrate innocence and naivety. For instance, in the phrase "the blood rushed to her face again", blood symbolizes shyness. It is challenging for readers to interpret Carter's work as strictly a feminist story as its content may also present anti-feminist themes. The protagonist's behavior often projects feebleness and immaturity, allowing herself to be corrupted. Marquis infantilizes her repeatedly through his tone of speech, petting gestures, and even eye contact.

Carter effectively dispels the readers' misunderstandings by showcasing the mother as the hero with masculine traits who rescues the protagonist like a chivalrous knight. The mother's arrival on horseback is depicted with classical imagery, enhancing its impact and shattering the victim-victor binary. Through her adept use of narrative, plot, vivid imagery, and language, Angela Carter creates highly detailed and terrifying scenes that engross the reader's interest.