In The Bloody Chamber, Carter embraces setting as a tool that contributes to the reader's emotional response as he delves deeper into the corrupting themes of his stories. We can therefore become more involved in his stories because the settings allow ideas such as superstition and male desire to surround the characters. In stories, these characteristics function as external manifestations of the characters' flaws. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay The room in The Bloody Chamber is symbolic and illustrates the themes of male domination and a pernicious kind of female subjection in the story. This room contains multiple mirrors, in which the narrator remembers watching "...a dozen husbands approach me in a dozen mirrors and slowly, methodically, teasingly, undo the buttons on my jacket..." an act she seems reluctant to do. allow. Thanks to the use of multiple mirrors in the setting, the reflection of the Marquis is seen “a dozen” times, highlighting his predatory approach. The imagery of multiple men affirms the idea that there is no escape for the narrator and that she must submit to the Marquis. She is at his house, in a room he gave her; he is even anchored in the walls while “methodically” approaching her. The setting therefore plays an important role in the reader's ability to empathize with the narrator, as we see through the setting a strong reminder that the Marquis is the predator and she is the prey. The narrator is again alerted to her helplessness through the bloody chamber setting when she states: “Absolute darkness. And, as for me, the instruments of mutilation. Carter here uses short, sharp sentences to describe the room, letting the horror of the scene shine through. It's like she can't believe what she's seeing; this disbelief is further illustrated by the description of the torture devices as "instruments", since the euphemism indicates that she cannot give an honest account of the context in which she finds herself. Once again, Carter reminds us of the helplessness of involuntarily submissive and frightened women, left in "absolute darkness" while dominant men have full power over sexuality and freedom. The bloody bedroom setting serves as a reminder of the horrific consequences women will find themselves in if subjected to strained relationships like this. Additionally, the setting of "The Snow Child" contributes to the stories effect through the description of the girl who is created and blends into the snowy woods that surround the count, a reminder of destructive male desire and its manifestations unsuccessful and potentially harmful physical processes. After the Count rapes the dead girl, she appears to melt and "Soon there was nothing left of her but a […] stain of blood", suggesting that the Count's fantasy was as real and as human as the decor that surrounded him. The image of blood contrasts with the appearance of "fresh snow", creating a stain in the setting so that it is no longer "pristine". This sequence shows that although men can have unrealistic fantasies, it is foolish and harmful to wish for these fantasies to manifest in the real world. Such desires harm the ideals of society as a whole because they demand that women meet unrealistic expectations. This point is reinforced by the phrase "soon there was nothing left" because the reader can infer that there was never anything real there to begin with. The setting is simply something the Count thinks he can use as a means of.