Everand Logo

Welcome to Everand!

  • Discover millions of ebooks, audiobooks, and so much more with a free trial

    Only $11.99/month after trial. Cancel anytime.

    Erotic Infidelities: Love and Enchantment in Angela Carter's The Bloody Chamber
    Erotic Infidelities: Love and Enchantment in Angela Carter's The Bloody Chamber
    Erotic Infidelities: Love and Enchantment in Angela Carter's The Bloody Chamber
    Ebook258 pages4 hours

    Erotic Infidelities: Love and Enchantment in Angela Carter's The Bloody Chamber

    By Kimberly J. Lau

    ()

    Read preview

    About this ebook

    In the thirty-five years since the publication of The Bloody Chamber, Angela Carter’s reimagined fairy tales have inspired an impressive body of criticism. Yet none has addressed the ways her fairy tales grapple with and seek to overcome the near impossibility of heterosexual love and desire under patriarchy. In Erotic Infidelities: Love and Enchantment in Angela Carter’s The Bloody Chamber, author Kimberly J. Lau argues that the strangeness of Carter’s fairy-tale enchantments—the moments when love or erotic desire escape the deeply familiar, habitual structures and ideologies that contain them—show the momentary, fleeting possibilities for heterosexual love and desire. Lau begins by situating her reading of The Bloody Chamber—as individual stories and as a collection—within and against the critical literature, especially that which addresses Carter’s relationship to psychoanalytic theory and issues of language and desire. In chapter 2, she illustrates Carter’s construction of gender and language as labyrinthine structures—complex cultural edifices constructed and augmented over time. She moves on to consider Carter’s “feline stories” in chapter 3—“The Courtship of Mr. Lyon,” “The Tiger’s Bride,” and “Puss-in-Boots”—as an initial move away from the labyrinthine structures and toward an alternate erotics. In chapter 4, she reads “The Erl-King” and “The Snow Child” as another pair of mirrored tales, while chapter 5 elaborates on the pedophilic and necrophiliac fantasies of a pornographic culture, introduced in the previous chapter with the Count’s desire for the Snow Child. In chapter 6, Lau situates Carter’s three concluding stories—the wolf trilogy—within the context of feminist psychoanalytic understandings of infidelity as that which destabilizes patriarchal hegemonies and constructs. Lau argues that Carter’s “erotic infidelities” work against our culturally determined expectations and longings and usher us into welcome new enchantments. Situated at the intersection of feminist, psychoanalytic, literary, and fairy-tale studies, readers interested in a variety of scholarly disciplines as well as scholars of Carter’s tales will enjoy Lau’s look at enduring questions of gender, sexuality, and desire.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherWayne State University Press
    Release dateDec 1, 2014
    ISBN9780814339343
    Erotic Infidelities: Love and Enchantment in Angela Carter's The Bloody Chamber
    Author

    Kimberly J. Lau

    Kimberly J. Lau is professor of literature at the University of California, Santa Cruz. She is the author of New Age Capitalism: Making Money East of Eden and Body Language: Sisters in Shape, Black Women’s Fitness, and Feminist Identity Politics.

    Read more from Kimberly J. Lau

    Related to Erotic Infidelities

    Related ebooks

    General Fiction For You

    View More
    View More

    Related podcast episodes

    Related articles

    • Article

      On Carmen Maria Machado’s Body Horrors

      Jan 12, 2018

      In her introduction to the 2015 reissue of Angela Carter’s The Bloody Chamber and Other Stories, an exhilarating collection of literary retellings of fables and fairy tales, Kelly Link describes the book’s indelible effect on her work: The things tha

      5 min read

    • Article

      In Which Angela Carter Gives No F**KS

      Mar 29, 2017

      During the time that Angela Carter taught at the University of East Anglia, her reputation underwent a series of small transformations. The first of these came with the publication of The Sadeian Woman, which was scheduled in both the UK and the USA

      5 min read

    • Article

      On Body Horror And The Monstrosity Of Women

      Oct 18, 2019

      A woman becoming something else—a tree, a freak, a monster—reduces the risk of harm. It may even allow you to cause harm in return. The post On Body Horror and the Monstrosity of Women appeared first on The Millions.

      5 min read

    • Article

      Promising Young Woman

      Mar 23, 2021

      Promising Young Woman
      5 min read

    • Article

      Tuesday New Release Day: Starring Manguso, Blake, Lavery, and More

      Feb 8, 2022

      Sarah Blake's latest post-apocalyptic novel, Mellors' satirical debut about a couple's impulsive marriage, and Lavery's speculative memoir are new this week The post Tuesday New Release Day: Starring Manguso, Blake, Lavery, and More appeared first on

      5 min read

    • Article

      Racism Doesn’t Have a Safe Word

      Jun 25, 2019

      In Jeremy O. Harris’s provocative Slave Play, three interracial couples seem to be acting out master-slave sex fantasies, though we soon realize they’re taking part in an elaborate healing ritual called Antebellum Sexual Performance Therapy. This app

      7 min read

    • Article

      All I Desire

      Mar 3, 2019

      THE BOOK WASN’T HIDDEN under my mattress, but it contained secrets nonetheless. It sat in plain sight, on the little shelf built into the wall of my childhood bedroom, alongside my John Bellairs mysteries, Choose Your Own Adventures, and copious film

      14 min read

    • Article

      A Year in Reading: Letitia Montgomery-Rodgers

      Dec 21, 2018

      I've looked for the light of underground things burst open. I've reached for what dispelled my feelings of singularity, of arrested numbness. The post A Year in Reading: Letitia Montgomery-Rodgers appeared first on The Millions.

      5 min read

    • Article

      The 20 Best Books of 2021

      Dec 22, 2021

      Editor’s Note: Find all of The Atlantic’s “Best of 2021” coverage here. Much of 2021 has been filled with a dull sense of déjà vu as the coronavirus pandemic has continued to shrink social worlds and batter morale. Many of the books our writers and

      14 min read

    • Article

      Tuesday New Release Day: Starring Chung, Brodesser-Akner, Habila, Steinke, and More

      Jun 18, 2019

      This week's releases include ambitious debuts, the memoir of an amateur boxer, and novels called both 'Travelers' and 'The Travelers.' WHAT ARE THE ODDS? The post Tuesday New Release Day: Starring Chung, Brodesser-Akner, Habila, Steinke, and More ap

      6 min read

    • Article

      Ten Trans Books I Love

      Jun 26, 2018

      Ten Trans Books I Love
      4 min read

    • Article

      Five Of The Best Books Of 2021

      Dec 24, 2021

      The novels, nonfiction, and memoirs that stood out most: Your weekly guide to the best in books

      4 min read

    • Article

      The 19 Best Books of 2018

      Dec 26, 2018

      The 19 Best Books of 2018
      13 min read

    • Article

      A Year in Reading: Morgan Thomas

      Dec 9, 2021

      Throughout these months, I’ve turned to story, as I always do, for advice about life, for models of family and togetherness. The post A Year in Reading: Morgan Thomas appeared first on The Millions.

      5 min read

    • Article

      A Year in Reading: Maud Newton

      Dec 15, 2022

      Maud Newton reflects on 2022 through the books she read. The post A Year in Reading: Maud Newton appeared first on The Millions.

      4 min read

    Related categories

    Reviews for Erotic Infidelities

    0 ratings

    0 ratings0 reviews

    What did you think?

    Tap to rate

    Review must be at least 10 words

      Book preview

      Erotic Infidelities - Kimberly J. Lau

      %1^book_preview_excerpt.html|˒Gv寄baUH(`_ ӅMtVQĊ nz3m%9^w(3Ȋ}{x?pmڸpԶ>C)6ϾL] ~ kM]_Z>sxrY~񰗃kM”vkVs ^7ן٭_ć_ٶxa[ߵǷ2~,ڥޚ<oN=^Ʀ]n|bSN/ִf`mMk6r۶⛮?f7{b\ߙCW-c ^ۡ_~(U/xl{Ͱ+3T7S^  ,,(-Wtbub«1-ֶtS[]+0ctl~ޟ)S[MxlϞqڭЍ,n7+xxKMwrgڱȅlm`ah_܏a/ꮫ˝ivR:ToN)E-bmn\<+?Xny |@osl1=-LwoLua+7<x=~Mnpu=篓=A ] F oo/ܺvv0_#;6qеWNdyv-"yŴIw7*Kv%q7#WW])T@2mEȰtxz&A  #`bk PҬ#zӷU&ދs+^ 1á uzaɠ4y$ؗo$rLɂKI!~C#V  {OeANs뿅Ӱx]!+mKEan\LDg:k2@&o&$Lk >-G;\ K ['Gk:Y˳+vn42EkU `şsƘd34on4Lt5JT0~AVifTB up׃-KUqVO@mKT`uuQr,1x0+ ߂#u[ p Ráe^)/h<198 N#fhƊy$譖';R7!*ft |vc>F7&S~uϳ u^i?C87e5aGچbD\{k.8q]▯GW$1Fp_H#3O` ö4  b%a nwu^Y ס`Lkc Aן C Jt\\ØWP0-:x'E` Ժ ,E R#=8D*TȖOMCAsϨ%B}ṿkwhkԖ~ňVGF1kU͡6~Wg٧gNP[s5dJ5+FIbiPĕ >"XqeB}.r Tm/@԰Q,ݕF0Cɠs 6ٛ&DXI0lƅ}K#oa_VM#=TOh;jKCEHkV_wRk4{SHq# Ēi,E ;'?VvXr47L0/J5y:" u!׊Wc;P07v)=H Am@P;$F?Ih9 Â]{Ic^)7c)hB@7}+ƝMm]ݑXnp2ƿgYS? JHe( \]n%xj X cgO(N6! vCf_ٓϞ|`3`GJ䵩a8&gyQ! RSV>رCQ0CP0$ls%e 4+*2jEUNd/b00v#MTKD1i@0>RIt]|IŅwyeb/pVəOXWא8 ^HJiR-i1 S1~ǵՠNaTA$okFah7VAX> fz۸R'644=Tp靔` ="gXVlp΋ǿ'k|DB@z?B 0I|[cReQn[\ZW΍t+Zjt<1PF4+ɝYny&q--ܗՌ'#ΉfԢ鶭 & .J)5 R%aEUY-O>IAU|P:[̰&!pY6EB5m\M)7q7}zn0%pKdr}mM3eA&T)X|L3*f \" Q,BەxcؘR 2 koK]=kJirmOD2.;ozٓǟSz $izI.A8}PxPEoOLj_Y k06lGQB5g! "ʵO׸r4f%IM~9)F"Z/FpUi1Ӟ ʵ)pHR|3PCYܵE'Gk X?}~*b;/pG*Sɞϸ&jG~MdVy~pt DnT5$ ㎐ۄrZ={]dJ{UDp@lB V08xrc<T5;*p_% /\uI6Yg' dhX]%'`m?X9+H[q}_HrDU$hÖ#$+#B! 6Ғoox"d[!Ks}ނoG;Uj#!։d!g%h)M2nmI[fZe~bxQDUY 1e]̙jӫOs!+8,q'&b`1[1"̿Lf;bG8MQ# PKzH镊'dw#A p-mIF ֢nɔd$P'̒naa38@tRJPƔ?q}bExY{ŶX m>d9^cxBѻI13죽}*u\/* 9O&ZG?Ō8y$'0+%G0ḯf'5SI35Ltc aqn3KH.1KQ) ?4d]lw(]#,l ar]n:Q^0F'|@GcH)ie2"pRNpd=+$kSߓ"v*Z| m&*OԓP䥂s1=+ 2J IUYWйeij"P(` 8ٺn{hcʜ=}RO5AFRssv&j5Tуa.dőE MWOqsOֆ )mj%*pQc C6K`9ˡnBִb?7XHwQ 7*+{&R;l"kCSY'O)0^4G h3P3O$n)&)m0%@ہ9) &1ƚuB3D7V$6Q^A*)Jb϶ٶOnnXPكz%RJF(NgX\p*'ޓ|W~)D>-u nFB +x?5+'nfmeeTb`8.z*t1-"!-zJP5;̯Vĥ@ǐr7bRtHD3Syց .m-UO(6,Qgw r!9trRIS I.N<:Ș l[&].j˪s?u:W A"pa2 vrꌛi&QW2R(3&ciP_Ig4mLD\;aϜ{Y<`yTs>3"(`F^bQ4 YoEG8٨&o;O|f劘X#̻ * RB[sH]섚6~C~d}P2Zbsbe/q'cla)2a/.kJd^^\gvf~%b@s/:K y7RԪ*I`yx(*Hݨ\ŲLu AJC_:; ݤ` 0,qTBz"+;IY- tb@:)m"[X9jFZR΅֦e(Bo*Acc%Hjz ^'V$pRޥy,JꊷF8 0QXy]ߛ-@e_ jađ왛W3BaTs "Ik3(CB`TmUN CbF9Dے`. Y=uk#PtaBD!< 'j@GV`a K0w'oC,2!`cǿ砙@qqJIUjF'쥽2-ApX%?y ?Xf}dG <@|A|f\ ю7!"u3钱PY?mfRQ@*SlA(NI hoL;Z_tBwhC2aa6 &/ Rp6ch2cte.R{_ݙmv ]M8T[!0RdϮ\ْԾHN̪R N!g=pRCJt3Թ֧ IHqоy3Nq10oDdF Z,jk^+BBޝk#YSrBaK9~Cz uŬ>HJM+qg&6rVDHILP4dmhtjr8P0⇮Y;{ XBzqoGqV@2 m$8s~ao &GL02IB`cЎ\1(1a+o҃ˌ[g+=C{zj<*Yfm< ţc%mPZ})P KHްd]o$WQmnFH.mӠ!kkrμlܗ&0B]YN},WjF|zM ;mݗ#YEYwzhO_Q]x8lCI퉗tMi2  Msh;&@f%0f܉B ?\bc\.({TO/M܎1/A[\#>2`jU`+ǶThR!s`JGdf*EJWBjR7+}ty :{Lks*a(P-f4/h( F"''*Y'YeYTc~Ԟ:1멖\,͑Vt aY%҈JO41w;>7aiHQEB{|󍊜yjػga=S0\ʏܵ ()d)4xpjs8>+u<5d\Sx?hUM4y=W0 N3G61G4Ć4AY)Rw% _Q \NZh"0ߑ(R!q)Lb.xCg y cLcVJ~nu8e!" J5zK:džk6 @i;eDZddTrѽ Ml\ipb0/?6$*:GLxh܆?2J42jp[A$S1S (MZΞ[©Tjug/@V׉4 xӕBrv PϦ&R9O?sd|:hduJQc!w =_q[ }v3L=k˂vY;w;tCDJ"wmd^O7\ӄ 0* !e?N 3 Im e>KFG~l}+)K^R+C$$/^+;hASza0D2xl%&̯J E0u gȨqb;AgĉES627ʀgfUmBԎe6OF a&\|( Lh']hO7ظO! I@g&hql._Z\?#d4C(dd𮊪T\zzu 8ќUU;\ W!u2náQ NG)"[V`.01ә!r5Ϸ$iwZDi|Nf 8T[=~P <5 L\Sby՟a=>qB԰:/^%'H2&4>%Nw^?GEVuڋ]4@:7(V`@Kk7e ]c4 A3K8a J+}'Qo"a 7<( Dr UY:ٶ5-DOU{t !"T\%=Iz4!HN3jrlC5ծ8w)cҁI|c~TO.>8\O>A GG17jμ$"r'9^^ٙ _sdWp+@ Wk\e`>W>nc#lh%q]kx/%},f-X3Y߉}3tj3sF)x/J_X+I }<%*mV'St>*RO JqB[$g&p-?ڰ5Oۺ>a->Ehߟ,p 3]}ﭤ"pl<tgO>6L֖!%I_?; :u ܾ8~$g±u$#TAbk*~)j4S#Ii8`|,㊄_X!'>G ke]
      Enjoying the preview?
      Page 1 of 1