Dualism and Repression in Le Fanu’s Carmilla
Synopsis
The world of Gothic is a deep sea of hidden gems, from its beginning as a “Goth” tribe in Europe to its induction as part of English literature. This dissertation (which is now a monograph), Dualism and Repression in Le Fanu’s Carmilla, explores the lesser-known work of Gothic Fiction. A seminal work of the late nineteenth century, the research work examines the “Dualistic” and “Repressive” traits and Carmilla’s role in the evolution of Gothic Vampiric Fiction and the trope of lesbianism. It examines the novella in the broader frameworks of Irish Gothic fiction and its interesting intersection with Victorian social and cultural norms. It also investigates the world of folklore, drawing from the depths of Slavic folklore and historical figures like Countess Bathory, also focusing on the aspect of mythology, and especially which Vampire is the leading protagonist in the case of Le Fanu’s Carmilla. As a lesser-known work of Gothic fiction, interestingly, Carmilla also sets the ground for Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1897), making it a precursor and highlighting its influence and cult status.
This research work analyses “Psychological Repression” and “Philosophical Dualism” through the lens of Freud and Jung, and from Cartesian Dualism by René Descartes, embodying attraction as well as its thematic engagement with Victorian rational anxieties about women’s sexuality and gender. By giving a lesbian vampire to the world, Le Fanu utilises the vampire figure as a metaphor for societal taboos and reflects on certain elements that challenge the heteronormative paradigms prevailing in the nineteenth century. Undermining the fact that the nineteenth century was notorious for subverting women’s sexuality, Le Fanu’s Carmilla showcases a parallel world in an existing world by challenging the traditional norms of sexuality and gender. Employing different methodologies, including thematic analysis, bibliographic research and interdisciplinary approaches from psychoanalysis to the philosophical mind-body problem, gender and queer theory, it delves into the deeper aspects of the novella’s literary and folkloric underpinnings.
While the research work addresses many questions on a minor level, it answers the major question of Carmilla’s repressive and dualistic nature, sexuality and gender, why it is a cult classic and what similarities and differences Carmilla and Dracula hold to date. It also addresses its legacy in Irish literary history, its contribution to the Gothic tradition, and the portrayal of sexual transgression as a means of subverting the nineteenth-century moral frameworks. This new-age study on Carmilla underscores the enduring relevance and potential as a foundation for twentieth-century Gothic researchers and scholars for new explorations in the novella. It aims to bridge gaps in the existing research, filling in the loopholes, and offering a fresh perspective on the novella’s cultural and literary significance.
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- Table of Contents Table of Contents
- Front Matter Front Matter
- Appendix Appendix
Published
April 30, 2026
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978-81-998984-1-7
Details about the available publication format: Hardback
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Copyright (c) 2026 Aditya Kaushal
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