Heroines and Villains: The symbols in the novel Heroes and Villains by Angela Carter.

Abstract

The research project proposes the analysis of the symbols in the novel Heroes and Villains, by Angela Carter, published in 1969. The importance of symbols for literary work is due to the fact that they go beyond the strict meaning of an element, giving it another value, which could be subjective, therefore its study is of great importance. For instance, in Carter's book, the relevance of the clock, in the beginning of the narrative is remarkable; an object of little use for the society at that moment has a huge value to the protagonist, since it belonged to her father, and to the story, being a symbol of the patriarchal control. The throwing of it into the swamp symbolizes the construction of a new feminine space. A myriad relations in the novel can be investigated by semiotics, and that is the goal of this study. It is also possible to observe the social criticism and the author's struggle in favor of a new feminine standpoint through science fiction.Angela Carter has published short stories, drama, children's literature and novels and she is recognised world-wide for writing from a feminist point of view. Her science fiction narratives, like Heroes and Villains and her texts full of magical realism are also well known. In Brazil, however, the author is still very little studied, and the book aimed by this project seems to be misunderstood by both public and critic. This study intends to correct this incomprehension and to support future researches on the work of the author.