Critical Perspectives

In the mid - 1800s, women had few rights and were expected to be subservient to men. But, as reflected by the controversial Gothic novels, these rigid roles were changing. Modern critics also point out the way in which female sexuality was often used to denote strength, rebelliousness and evil. Appearing as nefarious seductresses, female characters were often demons or villains who were punished or made to see the error of their ways at the story's end. (Possibly male authors expressing that women should remain submissive to men) Other scholars see the validation of marriage as a common theme of Gothic novels…