Psyche Unveiled: A Palpable Example of Female Gothic Genre, Ann Radcliffe’s the Mysteries of Udolpho

Year 2018, Issue: 36, 77 - 94, 30.12.2018

Pelin Kümbet

Abstract

This article concentrates on the exploration of the psyche of female Gothic heroine, Emily in Ann Radcliffe’s The Mysteries of Udolpho (1794),who eventually “lifts the black veil” of the uncanny and mysteriously hidden events. Mirroring the captivity of women in domestic spheres in the eighteen-century England, Ann Radcliffe portrays Emily breaking free from this entrapment by means of unburdening the past. With the employment of Gothic genre and suspense, embroidered with her poetic power and sensibility, Ann Radcliffe uses the supernatural as a principal tool to understand and reveal the status of women in the eighteen-century England and makes political statements with regards to women while drawing a critical picture of the society.

Keywords

Ann Radcliffe, The Mysteries of Udolpho, Psyche, Gothic genre, Female Heroine

Tin Perdesinin Kalkması: Ann Radcliffe’in The Mysteries Of Udolpho (Udolpho’nun Gizemleri) Romanı

Abstract

Bu makale, Ann Radcliffe’in The Mysterious of Udolpho (Udolpho’nun Gizemleri) (1794)adlı romanında, esrarengiz ve gizemli bir şekilde üstü örtülmüş olayların “kara perdesini kaldıran” Gotik bir kadın kahramanın tinsel keşfine odaklanmaktadır. 18. Yüzyıl İngiltere’sinde evcil bir alanda tutsak edilen kadının yaşantısına ışık tutarken, Ann Radcliffe, Emily adını verdiği bu kadın kahramanı, geçmişin yükünü kaldırarak şuan ki tutsaklığından kurtulabilen biri olarak betimler. Radcliffe, kendi şiirsel gücü ve duyarlılığıyla işlediği Gotik türünü ve gerilimi kullanarak, 18.Yüzyılda kadınların durumunu anlamak ve gözler önüne sermek için doğa üstücülüğü bir çeşit araç olarak kullanır ve toplumun kritik bir resmini çizerken aynı zamanda da kadınlarla ilgili politik söylemler de bulunur.

Keywords

Psyche Unveiled: A Palpable Example of Female Gothic Genre, Ann Radcliffe’s the Mysteries of Udolpho

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