Gothic engineerings in childrearing manuals and feminist novels: Benjamin Spock meets Renate Dorrestein

R.L. Buikema, E. Wesseling

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

This article investigates two Gothic novels by Renate Dorrestein, namely
Unnatural Mothers and A Heart of Stone, paying special attention to the motif
of the house, which plays a prominent role in Gothic fiction, and the
representation of motherhood. We argue that Dorrestein criticizes enlightened,
scientifically based approaches to the raising of children, especially the socalled “fun morality” of Benjamin Spock and Penelope Leach. Dorrestein
foregrounds the dark sides of family life, focusing on the problematic sides of
the mother-daughter relationship. We argue that Dorrestein’s representation of
motherhood is in keeping with Freud’s views on the matter, which is not all that
surprising considering that the Gothic novel formed an important source of
inspiration for Freud. Dorrestein’s novels give short shrift to Dr. Spock’s
domestication of the darker sides of Freud’s thinking.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationNostalgia or Perversion?
Subtitle of host publicationGothic Rewriting from the Eighteenth Century until the Present Day.
EditorsI. van Elferen
Place of PublicationNewcastle
PublisherCambridge Scholars Publishing
Chapter11
Pages152-167
Number of pages16
ISBN (Print)978-1-8471-8247-0
Publication statusPublished - 2007

Keywords

  • Specialized histories (international relations, law)
  • Literary theory, analysis and criticism
  • Culturele activiteiten
  • Overig maatschappelijk onderzoek

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