Karintha Is a Woman: Gothic Gender Dynamics in Jean Toomer's "Karintha" Anonymous College

From its inception in the 18th century, the Gothic genre has mostly focused on the experience of wealthy white men. However, as the genre took hold in America, with its own haunting history of slavery and racial subjugation, American authors of Gothic began to explore new subjects, perspectives, and power dynamics such as those of race. Written in 1923, Jean Toomer’s Cane explores the post-Reconstruction realities of Black life in America through a Gothic lens. The first vignette in the novel, titled “Karintha,” follows the titular figure as she matures into adulthood and control over her own sexual attractiveness. Karintha’s sexually based control over the men in her life demonstrates a notable reversal of the Gothic trope of dominating male sexuality, with notable gendered differences and weaknesses inherent in this inverted power dynamic.

Even as a young girl, Karintha demonstrates a level of power that is deeply unusual, especially for a Gothic tale. Traditional Gothic tales, such as The Castle of Otranto, typically demonstrate white patriarchal power over helpless, pure young women – such as the malicious Manfred ultimately murdering his kindly daughter Matilda. But Karintha is neither pure nor powerless. She wreaks havoc...