THE ANTIQUE “CODE” IN THE NOVEL “THE PASSION OF THE NEW EVE” BY ANGELA CARTER

Abstract

The article analyzes a novel “The Passion of the New Eve” (1977) by Angela Carter, an English writer of the 20th century, and reveals the mythical components of the ancient “code” in the work. The novel “The Passion of the New Eve” is intertwined with motifs, themes, and world mythology, and incorporates an immanent citation of iconic texts of European literature, as well as references to numerous artifacts and cinematography. However, it is the ancient code that is fundamental in this work. The motif of metamorphosis underlying the text demonstrates the idea of the person’s spiritual life, which became more complicated in the 20th century, the idea of mobility, the “fluid” nature of the person’s gender, postulates the idea of the dynamism of a person’s inner world, the idea of androgyny, variability and mobility of inner reality. The motifs that comprise the text’s ancient code express the author’s programmatic attitude toward the feminist complex of concepts. Using the principles of intertextual references to the cultural heritage of antiquity, the author, in accordance with the principles of postmodern vision, travesties classical motifs, uncovering in them the potential for an unexpected and paradoxical interpretation.