Epilogue

Abstract

In an age of body obsession, Gothic Dissections is a promotion of the body part. Dismembering the body permits an exploration of the specific fears associated with each aspect of the human anatomy, creating a greater understanding of the value of individual components and their range of functions. Borders become integral to an understanding of these parts, from the external boundary of skin to the orifices which open the body to invasion, or the limbs which reach across space. Elsewhere, anatomy and technology fuse to create biomechanical marvels that extend and augment the body. This chapter reflects on the case studies the book has presented and argues that within Gothic fiction the parts of the body are being creatively rearranged and redefined.