Features of The Bloody Chamber

Most significant features of The Bloody Chamber:

1.The Mother: Arguably the most powerful character (able to kill even the Marquis) yet is a woman. Achieves this through her husband's weapon (he he he) and "put a single, irreproachable bullet through my husband's head". Therefore power is still attained with a man's help. However, has her "maternal telepathy"  which is only a feminine thing so perhaps shows feminine power by itself is underestimated?

2.Sex: Marquis is the dominant force whilst the girl has to remain passive- it is a "one-sided struggle". The Marquis is the one who gets pleasure from it but she has been "infinitely dishevelled by the loss of my virginity". The Marquis has corrupted her as is shown through the loss of her virginity yet treats her as though she is the one who has left herself open to corruption, referring to her as a "whore" and calling her execution "martyrdom".

3.The Piano-tuner: Blind so does not look upon the Marquise with the 'male gaze' or lust. Contrary to conventional fairytale as is the male lover but cannot play an active role in the Marquise's rescue. Young so is unable to corrupt whilst the Marquis can. Also, cannot see the "shame" of the girl's red mark ("mark of Cain"), perhaps suggesting her weakness in disobeying men?
 
4.Religion: Not much on this, but I'll give it a shot. The Marquis' castle is run on a feudal system, with him at the top. His position means he can control all those within his 'realm' ("Might not the police, the advocates, even the judge, be all in his service", "he was milord whose word must be obeyed") as an almost God-like figure. Ancestral power (his "great-grandfather's ceremonial sword" and the ruby choker) gives a sort of pre-determination to his actions and the execution itself is carried out using religious terminology ("last rites, the sacrifice"). Within his castle, he is basically God and so has power over life and death.

5.Aspects of the Gothic: I suppose this is the most important bit. Takes place in a castle and has relics passed down from ancestors- old so has permanence and knowledge, making it easier to corrupt. The male threat is omnipotent within his own world corrupts the woman. Madonna/whore complex (at least in the eyes of the Marquis) as the Marquise has willingly succumbed to the Marquis. Punishment of 'sins'- "she died soon after" suggesting the old nurse died as a consequence of her pride in the girl's marriage; the Marquise to be executed for disobeying her husband's command and the Marquis himself being shot for his crimes.