Carmilla: (Annotated)

Carmilla is set in Austria during the late 1800s, and Le Fanu clearly draws upon contemporary issues of the Victorian era. This was a time that was noteworthy for its social and industrial reform, and for the formation and rise of the middle class. This middle class, to which Laura and her father belong, began to revolutionize society, while also furthering the gap between the wealthy and the poor. Additionally, the Victorian period placed a strong emphasis on domestic morality, tackling the prominence of prostitution and sexually transmitted diseases, which led to a greater emphasis on female purity and chastity, making the female sexuality portrayed in Carmilla particularly noteworthy. Read more