“More than Women”: Unveiling Complex Bodies and Exploring Gender Dynamics in The Blood of the Vampire and The Great God Pan

Arthur Machen’s The Great God Pan and Florence Marryat’s The Blood of the Vampire are two novels that delve into the representation of monstrosity, women, gender dynamics, and body horror. The portrayal of the protagonists as monstrous creatures has sparked scholarly interest in understanding the gender implications and societal anxieties embedded in the narrative (Lennox, 2018). The present paper analyses the exploration of two novels of monstrosity and its link to the female protagonists’ psychic powers have been analysed in the context of medical discourses, reflecting the societal perceptions of women’s bodies and their inherent powers. Furthermore, the novels’ setting at the fin de siècle adds complexity to the representation of women, as it reflects the precarious position of women in society during that time.