Angela Carter has written well over thirty pieces in her career. They include non-fiction novels, short fiction, poetry collections, dramatic works, radio plays, and children's books.
In 1967 Angela Carter’s novel ‘The Magic Toyshop’ was
published. ‘It follows the development of the heroine, Melanie, as she becomes
aware of herself, her environment, and her own sexuality.'
'The novel starts with
Melanie stealing her mother's wedding dress and venturing out in the night into
her family's property. However, on her way home, she realises she forgot the
door key and is forced to climb up a tree to get back into her room, destroying
the dress in the process.’ Melanie’s parents die and she is sent, with her two
siblings, to live with their Aunt and Uncle. The Uncle is a horrible man who
runs a toyshop and makes puppets for a puppet show. The narrator of the story
becomes friends with another boy, Finn, who lives in the house. He kisses her
but she is unsure of her feelings for him. Finn does something wrong in the
puppet show and is beaten by the Melanie’s Uncle. After this he becomes
defeated and stops washing. Then Melanie then has to take part in the puppet
show in a scene where her character is to be raped, but she does not live up to
her Uncle’s standards either and he hits her. Her Uncle leaves on a trip and Finn
decides that he won’t stand for the Uncle’s abuse anymore and sits in his place
at the dinner table. The Uncle returns, enraged, and burn the house down.
Melanie and Finn escape knowing that they will get married and be happy
together.
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