Write an essay on the Thesis: The portrayal of female sexuality in Sheridan Le Fanu’s Carmilla challenges traditional gender roles and exposes the societal fears of female empowerment.
Topic Sentence 1: Carmilla’s sexual agency challenges traditional gender roles.
Evidence from Carmilla: Carmilla’s seduction and manipulation of Laura.
Explanation: Carmilla’s actions subvert the traditional gender roles, as she takes on the role of the aggressor in the relationship, which is typically reserved for men.
Evidence from Outside Source: Judith Butler’s theory of gender performativity.
Explanation: Butler’s theory argues that gender is not biologically determined, but rather a social construct that is performed through behaviors and actions. Carmilla’s actions challenge the traditional gender roles, which supports Butler’s theory.
Topic Sentence 2: The portrayal of Carmilla as a vampire exposes societal fears of female empowerment.
Evidence from Carmilla: Carmilla’s vampiric abilities.
Explanation: Carmilla’s vampiric abilities, such as her immortality and her ability to control others, represent a threat to the patriarchal societal structure.
Evidence from Outside Source: The cultural history of the vampire as a symbol of deviance and rebellion.
Explanation: The vampire has often been used as a symbol of rebellion and deviance in popular culture, which reflects the societal fears of those who challenge the traditional power structures.
Topic Sentence 3: The depiction of Laura’s sexual awakening through her relationship with Carmilla highlights the limitations of societal expectations on female sexuality.
Evidence from Carmilla: Laura’s attraction to Carmilla.
Explanation: Laura’s attraction to Carmilla represents a departure from the societal expectation of heterosexual relationships between men and women.
Evidence from Outside Source: The societal expectations placed on women’s sexuality during the Victorian era.
Explanation: women were expected to conform to strict societal expectations regarding their sexuality, including sexual purity and chastity. Laura’s attraction to Carmilla challenges these expectations and exposes the limitations placed on female sexuality.
