In Gothic literature, the theme of transgression is often depicted: the stepping across boundaries that have been created by society, law, science or God, thus invoking terrifying consequences. By examining the effects of transgression, humanity can test limits and question their fears, anxieties and social norms. (1)
In the Gothic tale of ‘Bluebeard’, (2) a nobleman has been married many times. Bluebeard’s seventh wife is left alone in his palace with the keys to every room – but is instructed not to enter one particular room. Overcome with curiosity, the woman opens the door to the forbidden chamber, only to find the bodies of all Bluebeard’s previous wives hanging from hooks. Bluebeard unexpectedly returns and, enraged that his wife had defied his will, declares that she is to meet the same fate as his previous wives. In the act of witnessing the terrible sins of her husband, Bluebeard’s wife has been accused of transgression; she is now the one who will be punished.
This punishment of those who witness transgression is all too common. For my newsletter this month, I visited the market town of Rotherham. (3) I was charmed by the friendliness and kindness I found there; however, I was also reminded of the dark years of the Grooming Gangs scandal. (4) The most particularly egregious aspect of these events was the way the victims of the gangs were treated. Vulnerable young girls under the age of consent were labelled by the authorities who should have protected them as sinners rather than the sinned-against. It is as though, through the act of witness, the evil of the event is subsumed by the onlooker and must become their personal burden.
Another example of this is the Post Office Scandal, (5) where corporate policy refused to acknowledge catastrophic system-failure, and instead decided to blame the innocent victims . Company call handlers were trained to tell each panicked post master that they were ‘the only one’ who had an issue with financial errors, resulting in prosecution, jail time and personal and relationship collapse. (6)
What is this human desire to punish those who witness our sins? In Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, (7) Victor refuses to acknowledge that he has transgressed the rules of Nature by abandoning his own creation. He calls his creature demonic and malicious, lashing out, unable to admit his guilt, hubris and failure of parental responsibility. On being confronted with our transgression, the human reaction is often this same violent anger at the mirror held up to the inadequate self. It is intolerable to the ego to see that most ugly of images. The instinct is therefore to blame another, and the one most often closest is the very person who has suffered.
As a society, we tolerate so much of this behaviour and often feel unable to name the true transgressors. Is there a little Bluebeard in all of us?
References:
‘Gothic’ by Fred Botting Page accessed 31/10/26 Amazon page for up to date version of ‘Gothic”
Bluebeard Wikipedia page accessed 31/10/26
Visit Rotherham page accessed 31/10/26
Uk Gov Audit on Group-Based Child Sexual Exploitation Page accessed 30/10/26
UK Gov. Post Office Horizon Scandal Factsheet Page acessed 31/10/26
Post Office Criminal Cases Review Page accessed 31/10/26
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley Wikipedia page accessed 31/10/26
