Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu's Carmilla
The Victorian era’s patriarchal ideals rooted on fear of female empowerment influenced Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu’s lesbian vampire novella, Carmilla. The social ambience created by patriarchy at the time limited women to be objects of desire to be owned and controlled by men. In hopes of defying this social construct Le Fanu creates Carmilla, a vampire who feeds on and loves other women. Her independence from and disregard for the patriarchy challenges male kinship. The novella Carmilla is an attempt to threaten patriarchal kinship, by trying to shift dominance from males to females. Yet it fails to deliver an overarching anti-patriarchal message due to a heavy presence of male dominance in the form of valuing women for their beauty, by keeping
…show more content…
women uninformed on important matters, and particularly when he kills his symbol of patriarchal defiance, Carmilla. Through out his novella, Le Fanu strives to accentuate the powerful role women play.
He tries to remove male dominance, and place it in the hands of the women. Doing so he allows women to make their own decisions, and be independent of men. The main character, Carmilla, serves as a symbol to such idea; her role is to show a disregard to the homosocial bonds that were established by men at the time. Beginning with her abrupt arrival to Laura’s schloss, Carmilla and her mother challenge male dominance repeatedly. As Signorrotti mentions in her essay “Repossessing the Body”, the negotiation, that would determine if Carmilla stayed in the schloss, between Carmilla’s mother and Laura’s father shows the shifting dynamic of power that ensues from allowing women to negotiate with men (pg. 613). An idea that was radical at the time. While Carmilla’s mother does not explicitly state that she wants Carmilla to stay at the schloss, she manipulates Laura’s father by taking advantage of his chivalry. Because he feels that the chivalrous things to do is to take in Carmilla, without consideration of consequences, that is what he does. Signorrotti brings forth this idea in her essay, stating that the ability to exploit chivalry “exposes it as a weakness,” (pg. 616). Such is considered a weakness to men because any advantage that women have over men threatens the societal dominance they
hold. As soon as Carmilla arrives to the schloss, Laura becomes less dependent on her father. At first it was due to her excitement of having a new companion, but as time passed she grew emotionally attached to Carmilla. “I was conscious of a love growing into adoration,” Laura stated, explicitly expressing that she had never felt a connection so strong (pg. 40). The feelings that grew between them went against the established homosocial bonds of the time; women could be friends, but anything beyond that threatened the established idea that women were for men’s control and pleasure. Carmilla’s corruption of Laura through lesbianism and seclusion from men, detached Laura from her father and freed her from his guard. Which ultimately robbed him of his male authority, leaving him impotent. The same is to be said of General Spielsdorf, who was left devastated and vengeful, after Carmilla robbed him of his beloved daughter Bertha, much the same as she did with Laura. The detachment and devastation brought forth by Carmilla strongly threatens patriarchal dominance. Although, not all of Carmilla’s behavior is purposely dismissive or threatening to male kinship. Yet in her essay, Signorrotti makes claims that most of Carmilla’s behavior is due to her contempt of the patriarchy. I disagree with her argument. There are times when Carmilla’s behavior is simply due to her being a vampire. One of Signorrotti’s claims is that “Uncontainable by male systems of exchange, Carmilla shifts shape— refusing to be bound by the restrictive, one dimensional roles available to women— and leaves at her own pleasure,” (pg. 615). However Carmilla doesn’t shift shape to escape from the patriarchy, she does because it’s part of her vampire abilities. At times she escapes because she doesn’t want to be discovered, and at times because she wants to be alone. While Le Fanu builds a narrative against the patriarchy, he fails to seal his argument. Throughout the novella, there are many instances where the exertion of male of dominance and patriarchal ideals are prevalent. The idea that women are valued by their physical aspect is very pronounced. Laura is protected and loved for her beauty, while Carmilla is desired and accepted because of it. All through the novella, women are described as pretty, from face to fingers. Although very rarely are they praised for their wit. This desire for beauty isn’t exclusive to men. Laura and her caretakers show this early in the novella when Laura asks her Madams how they liked the new guest, Carmilla. They answer by saying “she is… the prettiest creature I ever saw… so gentle and nice,” and “She is absolutely beautiful…and such a sweet voice,” (Le Fanu, pg. 26). Immediately they are exited by her beauty, and look forward to being with her due to it. Yet if she had not been beautiful, they wouldn’t have been as content with their visitor. The same goes for Carmilla, if Laura had not been as beautiful then she would have not been as attached to Laura. Laura’s father is particularly guilty of valuing women by their beauty. When Laura gets sick her father notices because she doesn’t look as beautiful anymore, and when he expresses his desire for her wellbeing he does so by saying “I wish my poor Laura was looking more like herself,” (pg. 83). He didn’t express that he wanted her to feel better, but that she look better. These examples heavily deters from the narrative Le Fanu strives to build. Further evidence of the exertion of male dominance is when Laura’s father withholds information from Laura about her medical condition even after the doctor is alarmed by her condition. This supports the patriarchal idea that women should be protected by men at all costs. Even if Laura should be made aware that she could potentially die, her father still doesn’t disclose anything. Finally, Le Fanu constructs a narrative throughout his novella about females going against their patriarchal society, strong and uncontainable women. Yet his argument is left to crumble after he kills Carmilla, a character who strongly pushed patriarchal defiance. Carmilla is killed by General Spielsdorf, who represents patriarchy, and is angry with Carmilla because she was able to fool him, and as a result kill his daughter. So when Le Fanu kills Carmilla, he is instead showing that women who attempt to defy the patriarchy will not be successful and will be shut down. This begs the question, was this novel written to empower women, or to show men the dangers of powerful women and emphasize that they be combated? Le Fanu attempts to threaten patriarchal kinship, yet he fails to do so. While he shapes Carmilla into male defiant character, the heavy presence of male dominance throughout his novella prevents a successful anti-patriarchal message. Carmilla an arguably a feminist novella, I see instead as an open letter to men warning them of the rise of the new women.
women uninformed on important matters, and particularly when he kills his symbol of patriarchal defiance, Carmilla. Through out his novella, Le Fanu strives to accentuate the powerful role women play.
He tries to remove male dominance, and place it in the hands of the women. Doing so he allows women to make their own decisions, and be independent of men. The main character, Carmilla, serves as a symbol to such idea; her role is to show a disregard to the homosocial bonds that were established by men at the time. Beginning with her abrupt arrival to Laura’s schloss, Carmilla and her mother challenge male dominance repeatedly. As Signorrotti mentions in her essay “Repossessing the Body”, the negotiation, that would determine if Carmilla stayed in the schloss, between Carmilla’s mother and Laura’s father shows the shifting dynamic of power that ensues from allowing women to negotiate with men (pg. 613). An idea that was radical at the time. While Carmilla’s mother does not explicitly state that she wants Carmilla to stay at the schloss, she manipulates Laura’s father by taking advantage of his chivalry. Because he feels that the chivalrous things to do is to take in Carmilla, without consideration of consequences, that is what he does. Signorrotti brings forth this idea in her essay, stating that the ability to exploit chivalry “exposes it as a weakness,” (pg. 616). Such is considered a weakness to men because any advantage that women have over men threatens the societal dominance they
hold. As soon as Carmilla arrives to the schloss, Laura becomes less dependent on her father. At first it was due to her excitement of having a new companion, but as time passed she grew emotionally attached to Carmilla. “I was conscious of a love growing into adoration,” Laura stated, explicitly expressing that she had never felt a connection so strong (pg. 40). The feelings that grew between them went against the established homosocial bonds of the time; women could be friends, but anything beyond that threatened the established idea that women were for men’s control and pleasure. Carmilla’s corruption of Laura through lesbianism and seclusion from men, detached Laura from her father and freed her from his guard. Which ultimately robbed him of his male authority, leaving him impotent. The same is to be said of General Spielsdorf, who was left devastated and vengeful, after Carmilla robbed him of his beloved daughter Bertha, much the same as she did with Laura. The detachment and devastation brought forth by Carmilla strongly threatens patriarchal dominance. Although, not all of Carmilla’s behavior is purposely dismissive or threatening to male kinship. Yet in her essay, Signorrotti makes claims that most of Carmilla’s behavior is due to her contempt of the patriarchy. I disagree with her argument. There are times when Carmilla’s behavior is simply due to her being a vampire. One of Signorrotti’s claims is that “Uncontainable by male systems of exchange, Carmilla shifts shape— refusing to be bound by the restrictive, one dimensional roles available to women— and leaves at her own pleasure,” (pg. 615). However Carmilla doesn’t shift shape to escape from the patriarchy, she does because it’s part of her vampire abilities. At times she escapes because she doesn’t want to be discovered, and at times because she wants to be alone. While Le Fanu builds a narrative against the patriarchy, he fails to seal his argument. Throughout the novella, there are many instances where the exertion of male of dominance and patriarchal ideals are prevalent. The idea that women are valued by their physical aspect is very pronounced. Laura is protected and loved for her beauty, while Carmilla is desired and accepted because of it. All through the novella, women are described as pretty, from face to fingers. Although very rarely are they praised for their wit. This desire for beauty isn’t exclusive to men. Laura and her caretakers show this early in the novella when Laura asks her Madams how they liked the new guest, Carmilla. They answer by saying “she is… the prettiest creature I ever saw… so gentle and nice,” and “She is absolutely beautiful…and such a sweet voice,” (Le Fanu, pg. 26). Immediately they are exited by her beauty, and look forward to being with her due to it. Yet if she had not been beautiful, they wouldn’t have been as content with their visitor. The same goes for Carmilla, if Laura had not been as beautiful then she would have not been as attached to Laura. Laura’s father is particularly guilty of valuing women by their beauty. When Laura gets sick her father notices because she doesn’t look as beautiful anymore, and when he expresses his desire for her wellbeing he does so by saying “I wish my poor Laura was looking more like herself,” (pg. 83). He didn’t express that he wanted her to feel better, but that she look better. These examples heavily deters from the narrative Le Fanu strives to build. Further evidence of the exertion of male dominance is when Laura’s father withholds information from Laura about her medical condition even after the doctor is alarmed by her condition. This supports the patriarchal idea that women should be protected by men at all costs. Even if Laura should be made aware that she could potentially die, her father still doesn’t disclose anything. Finally, Le Fanu constructs a narrative throughout his novella about females going against their patriarchal society, strong and uncontainable women. Yet his argument is left to crumble after he kills Carmilla, a character who strongly pushed patriarchal defiance. Carmilla is killed by General Spielsdorf, who represents patriarchy, and is angry with Carmilla because she was able to fool him, and as a result kill his daughter. So when Le Fanu kills Carmilla, he is instead showing that women who attempt to defy the patriarchy will not be successful and will be shut down. This begs the question, was this novel written to empower women, or to show men the dangers of powerful women and emphasize that they be combated? Le Fanu attempts to threaten patriarchal kinship, yet he fails to do so. While he shapes Carmilla into male defiant character, the heavy presence of male dominance throughout his novella prevents a successful anti-patriarchal message. Carmilla an arguably a feminist novella, I see instead as an open letter to men warning them of the rise of the new women.