Doubling is the “appearance of persons who have to be regarded as identical because they look alike” (Freud, 2003: 14) and, according to Freud, this can create an uncanny effect because “we are faced with the reality of something that we have until now considered imaginary” (Freud, 2003: 150). However, the trope of the double has far more potential than just sending shivers down our spines; its appearance might indeed raise, and confront us with, important questions concerning our own identity and subjectivity. I would like to exemplify this by comparing the importance of doppelgänger figures in Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca and Angela Carter’s The Magic Toyshop in relation to gender identity and would like to investigate, in particular, how the trope of the double/phantom might call into question gender role expectations, shed light on their constructedness, and ultimately play an important role in overcoming social and sexual limitations.
Table of Contents
1. The trope of the double in Daphne Maurier's Rebecca and Angela Carter's The Magic Toyshop
Research Objectives and Themes
This paper examines the literary trope of the double (doppelgänger) in Daphne du Maurier's "Rebecca" and Angela Carter's "The Magic Toyshop," exploring how these figures confront gender role expectations, expose the constructedness of femininity, and catalyze the protagonists' struggles for identity and independence.
- The psychological and social impact of doppelgänger figures on female subjectivity.
- The role of "the uncanny" in deconstructing traditional gender roles.
- Comparative analysis of how patriarchal environments shape female identity.
- The use of inanimate objects (puppets/shadows) as metaphors for female marginalization.
- The transition from dependence to self-knowledge through the confrontation with the "double."
Excerpt from the Book
The trope of the double in Daphne Maurier's Rebecca and Angela Carter's The Magic Toyshop
Doubling is the “appearance of persons who have to be regarded as identical because they look alike” (Freud, 2003: 14) and, according to Freud, this can create an uncanny effect because “we are faced with the reality of something that we have until now considered imaginary” (Freud, 2003: 150). However, the trope of the double has far more potential than just sending shivers down our spines; its appearance might indeed raise, and confront us with, important questions concerning our own identity and subjectivity. I would like to exemplify this by comparing the importance of doppelgänger figures in Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca and Angela Carter’s The Magic Toyshop in relation to gender identity and would like to investigate, in particular, how the trope of the double/phantom might call into question gender role expectations, shed light on their constructedness, and ultimately play an important role in overcoming social and sexual limitations.
In the novel Rebecca, Daphne du Maurier establishes, from the beginning, a doppelgänger of and binary opposition to the narrator, in the haunting presence of Maxim de Winter’s late wife Rebecca. In doing so, she draws our attention to the differences between the two, in particular the differences in their notions of femininity and womanhood, which have a profound impact on their identity and the way they define themselves as subjects. Rebecca is, in fact, the complete opposite of the narrator, both on the inside and the outside; indeed, “their counter-images seem photo-negative reversals of each other” (as cited by Horner & Zlosnik, 1998: 108). Unlike the second Mrs de Winter, she is confident, runs Manderley’s enormous household by herself, can sail a boat single-handedly, hunt, ride horses, and, in doing so, behaves in a way that, at the time, might have been considered
Summary of Chapters
1. The trope of the double in Daphne Maurier's Rebecca and Angela Carter's The Magic Toyshop: This section provides a theoretical introduction to the concept of the double and contrasts the experiences of the protagonists in Rebecca and The Magic Toyshop as they navigate patriarchal control and identity formation.
Keywords
The double, doppelgänger, Rebecca, The Magic Toyshop, gender identity, subjectivity, uncanny, patriarchy, feminism, construction of femininity, Daphne du Maurier, Angela Carter, marginalization, autonomy, resistance.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fundamental subject of this academic paper?
The paper explores the literary trope of the "double" and how it functions as a psychological and social catalyst for the protagonists in the novels "Rebecca" by Daphne du Maurier and "The Magic Toyshop" by Angela Carter.
What are the primary thematic fields covered in this study?
The study centers on gender identity, the impact of patriarchal structures, the concept of the "uncanny," and the process of female self-realization and empowerment.
What is the core objective of the research?
The research aims to investigate how doppelgänger figures challenge traditional gender role expectations and reveal the constructed nature of femininity in the selected novels.
Which scientific or theoretical framework is primarily utilized?
The paper incorporates psychoanalytic theory, specifically focusing on Freudian concepts of "the uncanny" and the double, alongside feminist literary criticism to analyze power dynamics and identity.
What does the main body of the work focus on?
The main body compares the haunting presence of the deceased Rebecca in du Maurier’s novel with the uncanny, life-like puppets in Carter’s "The Magic Toyshop," analyzing how both influence the protagonists' perceptions of themselves.
Which keywords characterize this analysis?
Key terms include the double, doppelgänger, subjectivity, the uncanny, patriarchy, feminism, and identity construction.
How does the author define the "double" in the context of Rebecca?
In "Rebecca," the double acts as a "negative" role model of femininity; the narrator's obsession with her predecessor forces her to define herself in opposition to, or in imitation of, the idealized yet feared first wife.
What role do the puppets play in Angela Carter’s "The Magic Toyshop"?
The puppets serve as physical manifestations of the "threatened woman" who has been marginalized, silenced, and reduced to an object by male authority, representing the potential loss of self that the protagonist Melanie fears.
- Citation du texte
- Bachelor of Arts Linda Schädler (Auteur), 2012, The Double in Daphne Maurier's "Rebecca" and Angela Carter's "The Magic Toyshop", Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/274946
