Angela Carter in a Subversive Dialogue With the Brothers Grimm

The Powerful and Ambiguous Role of Mother Figures in Fairy Tales

Abstract

This paper examines the complex roles of mother figures in Angela Carter’s subversive fairy tales. The first part contextualises the genre’s evolution, the emergence of subversive voices, and Carter’s strategies in rewriting canonical tales. Special focus is given to the traditional portrayal of mother figures, and to their role in promoting the patriarchal ideology. The second part examines how Carter challenges the Grimms’ agenda through her rewritten mother figures in the “The Snow Child” and “The Bloody Chamber”. This study aims to offer a contribution to the question of mother figures’ role in shaping the heroine’s character and journey.