"The Erl-King" is a short story included in Angela Carter's feminist collection, "The Bloody Chamber," published in 1979. Carter, a British writer, explores themes of power dynamics and female agency in her stories. "The Erl-King" revolves around a young girl who encounters a mysterious man in the forest, referred to as the Erl-King. The story delves into the themes of seduction, captivity, and transformation.
Plot Summary
The story follows a young girl who wanders into the forest, where she encounters the Erl-King, a solitary man residing in a small house. The Erl-King sustains himself by gathering flowers, mushrooms, and rabbits from the forest, and he possesses a nanny goat that provides him with milk for making cheese. He is described as a proficient housewife, adept at managing his dwelling and subsisting off the forest's offerings.The young girl becomes entranced by the Erl-King, and he seduces her, undressing her and enveloping her within his own body. Symbolically, the Erl-King represents the forest itself, with his eyes described as intensely green, suggesting a prolonged connection to the woodlands. He evokes the mythical figures of Pan from Greek mythology and the Green Man from English folklore, embodying the spirit of the forests.
Aware that her encounter with the Erl-King will lead to her "death," the girl expresses a desire to retaliate. She wishes to strangle the Erl-King with his own hair, free the birds trapped in cages within his home, and witness their transformation back into young girls. Furthermore, she intends to use the Erl-King's hair to restring the fiddle hanging on his wall. The narrator reveals that the strings of the fiddle will cry out, proclaiming, "Mother, mother, you have murdered me!"
The story ends with this contemplation of the girl's desire for liberation and vengeance, encapsulating themes of power, captivity, and transformation that permeate "The Erl-King."
Analysis
Exploring Gender and Power Dynamics
Angela Carter likely drew inspiration for the name "Erl-King" from the German Romantic writer Goethe. However, her story bears no direct connection to Goethe's poem. Instead, like other tales in "The Bloody Chamber," Carter's story is rich in folklore and mythological allusions. Analyzing gender representation and power dynamics within "The Erl-King" presents an intriguing challenge due to the shifting narrative perspectives employed by Carter.The story commences in the second-person perspective, placing the reader within the woods alongside the young girl. The narrative subsequently transitions to a more conventional third-person narrator, utilizing the subjunctive mood, which casts doubt on the actual occurrence of the events. Eventually, the young girl herself becomes the first-person narrator, blurring the lines between protagonist and narrator, and inviting readers to empathize with her experiences.
Ambiguity and Mood
Carter employs a complex and nuanced mood throughout the story. The use of the subjunctive mood in the preamble and the shifting narrative styles creates uncertainty regarding the reality of events. It raises questions about whether the girl's encounter with the Erl-King is a factual occurrence or a figment of her imagination. The narrative style aims to engage readers by immersing them in the girl's perspective and the seductive allure of the forest and its mysterious inhabitant.The Power Dynamic and Liberation
The ending of the story introduces a shift in power dynamics, where the girl supposedly strangles the Erl-King with his own hair. This act of female empowerment aligns with the overarching themes in Carter's collection, where women often gain control and subdue their male oppressors. The reference to Robert Browning's poem, "Porphyria's Lover," further enhances the symbolism of the girl's rebellion. However, the exact occurrence of this event remains ambiguous, leaving room for interpretation. It is uncertain whether she resists the Erl-King's deadly bite or merely fantasizes about doing so.The Complexity of the Erl-King
The portrayal of the Erl-King is multifaceted. On one hand, he represents a predatory male figure, symbolized by his bite to the neck, which entraps the girls, including the protagonist, within cages. This act of deflowering and imprisonment mirrors traditional gender dynamics, where women are confined within marital or potentially oppressive relationships. However, the Erl-King is also described as an "excellent housewife," displaying care and affection for the birds in his captivity. His seduction is ambiguous, as the girl experiences both fear and desire, torn between her love for him and the need for self-preservation. The story acknowledges the entrapment of women under patriarchal structures, while also highlighting the Erl-King's "innocence" in his unawareness of the consequences of his actions.In essence, "The Erl-King" explores the nuanced complexities of gender dynamics, revealing the entrapment and suffering experienced by both women and men within patriarchal systems. The wood itself becomes a metaphorical prison, encapsulating the idea that women and the Erl-King are already trapped before they find themselves in literal cages.