"But to die as lovers may" - En utforskning av viktorianske frykter angående kvinnelig seksualitet i Sheridan Le Fanus 'Carmilla'

Abstract

Le Fanu’s decision to couple innocent Laura with vampiric Carmilla coincides with the Victorian anxiety concerning the rise of female sexual knowledge. To put it simply, their relationship deviates from the Victorian marriage ideals, and therefore assuming the position to threaten male authority. This thesis aims to discuss how Laura’s inability to understand her sexual feelings is a manifestation of her repression, and how her introduction to sexual knowledge through Carmilla was seen as threatening to Victorian society because of it possibly leading to the degeneration of male authority. Even though it is possible to see Laura as a representation of the repressed angel of Victorian society, there is ample evidence to argue that Laura is not as passionless as is hoped. Carmilla, as the vampire, metaphorically spreads her knowledge by killing young women; the killing of women can be seen as a non-procreative spreading of knowledge. Looking at the narration, the similarity between death and knowledge, and the metaphorical sword, this thesis will show that women had knowledge, but not authority. By starting to gain this authority, they threaten the already dominant male authority, starting the degeneration of men.

Le Fanu’s decision to couple innocent Laura with vampiric Carmilla coincides with the Victorian anxiety concerning the rise of female sexual knowledge. To put it simply, their relationship deviates from the Victorian marriage ideals, and therefore assuming the position to threaten male authority. This thesis aims to discuss how Laura’s inability to understand her sexual feelings is a manifestation of her repression, and how her introduction to sexual knowledge through Carmilla was seen as threatening to Victorian society because of it possibly leading to the degeneration of male authority. Even though it is possible to see Laura as a representation of the repressed angel of Victorian society, there is ample evidence to argue that Laura is not as passionless as is hoped. Carmilla, as the vampire, metaphorically spreads her knowledge by killing young women; the killing of women can be seen as a non-procreative spreading of knowledge. Looking at the narration, the similarity between death and knowledge, and the metaphorical sword, this thesis will show that women had knowledge, but not authority. By starting to gain this authority, they threaten the already dominant male authority, starting the degeneration of men.