general points

female characters

1) both Caroline and Sybil Vane’s roles as women are subverted in order to question the bounds of the patriarchal society of Britain

2)both C and S are idealised and romanticised by men, which ultimately leads to their deaths, in order to criticise the objectification of women and the superficial nature of male desire

3) mothers are presented as holding large amounts of concern for their daughters in order to criticise the vulnerability and societal instability women face

influence

1. influence of male characters in order to present their underlying desires

2. influence of the supernatural in order to emphasise the decline of the aristocracy

3. influence of mothers in order to gain security

female characters

1) both Caroline and Sybil Vane’s roles as women are subverted in order to question the bounds of the patriarchal society of Britain

2)both C and S are idealised and romanticised by men, which ultimately leads to their deaths, in order to criticise the objectification of women and the superficial nature of male desire

3) mothers are presented as holding large amounts of concern for their daughters in order to criticise the vulnerability and societal instability women face

influence

1. influence of male characters in order to present their underlying desires

2. influence of the supernatural in order to emphasise the decline of the aristocracy

3. influence of mothers in order to gain security

masculinity

1) masculinity to be influenced by superficial concepts of love→ ultimately naive

2) both novels link masculinity to social status, showing how masculinity can lead to jealousy/ competition

3) portray toxic masculinity, which is manipulative and violent

fear

1) fear of the supernatural in order to emphasise the downfall of their respective characters

2) fear of social rejection and reputation in order to reflect societal values and anxieties of their respective times

3) fears and constraints of societal positions of women are explored to emphasise the vulnerability of women within a patriarchal society

secrecy

1. explore the theme of repression and subconscious desires through secrecy

2. both writers use secrecy to critique societal norms and values

3. secrecy of the supernatural in order to emphasise the decline of characters

the upper class

1) supernatural presents the decline of the aristocracy

2) upper class as victims of invasion of middle class

3) despite financial freedom, women of the upper class are limited and constrained by the patriarchal society surrounding them

fate vs free will

1) fate determines man’s nature

2) fate of women is predetermined, despite attempts at regaining autonomy

3)whilst fate seemingly seems to be dominant, free will triumphs