A sense of being trapped, either literally or metaphorically. A young woman could be trapped in a bad relationship, a haunted place, or a situation where she has no control. This lack of control and the feeling of being unable to escape add to the eerie nature of the story. For example, she might be in a small town where everyone seems to be in on a dark secret and she can't leave.
Isolation is a common theme. For example, in many stories, young women are often physically or emotionally isolated, which leads to the eerie situations. It could be isolation in a big old house like in some classic gothic stories.
The unknown or the supernatural. Many of these stories involve young women encountering something that defies explanation, like ghosts or strange forces. It's this encounter with the unknown that creates the eerie feeling. For instance, a young woman might see a shadowy figure that no one else can see, and as she tries to figure out what it is, the story builds suspense. This can also be related to themes of fear of the dark and the unknowable depths of the human mind.
Another theme is the unknown or the supernatural. Stories like 'Carmilla' deal with vampires, which are a part of the supernatural realm. The young women in these stories often find themselves facing something that defies normal explanation. This encounter with the unknown is what gives the stories their eerie quality, as it plays on our fears of the things we don't understand.
One common theme is isolation. In many such stories, young girls are often isolated, either physically like being locked in a room as in 'The Yellow Wallpaper' or socially as in 'The Doll's House'. Another theme is the unknown or the supernatural. For example, in 'The Turn of the Screw', the young girl and boy are supposedly haunted by spirits which are part of the unknown. Fear is also a big theme. The young girls in these stories often experience fear, like Carrie in 'Carrie' who is afraid of the bullies at school and then later becomes the source of fear herself.
One such story is 'The Yellow Wallpaper' by Charlotte Perkins Gilman. It tells the tale of a young woman's descent into madness as she is confined to a room with hideous yellow wallpaper. The story is eerie as it delves into the psychological state of the woman, with her hallucinations and growing obsession with the wallpaper.
Also, Shirley Jackson's 'The Lottery' can be considered. Although it doesn't focus solely on a young woman, there are young female characters in the story. The whole concept of the lottery in the small town is extremely eerie, as it reveals the dark and cruel side of a seemingly ordinary community.
Love is a common theme. For example, in many stories, women experience different forms of love, like romantic love or the love within a family. Another theme is struggle. Women often face various challenges, whether it's social expectations, like in stories set in a particular era where women had limited rights. Also, self - discovery. In short stories, women characters might start off not really knowing themselves but through the events of the story, they come to understand their own desires and identities. For instance, a woman might break free from a traditional role she was forced into and find her true self.
One such story is 'The Yellow Wallpaper'. It tells the tale of a young woman's descent into madness while being confined. The story has an eerie atmosphere as she becomes obsessed with the pattern on the wallpaper in her room. Another is 'The Lottery' by Shirley Jackson. In this story, a small town has a strange lottery that has a very dark and unexpected outcome, often involving young girls in the community who are unknowingly part of this cruel tradition. There's also 'Carrie' by Stephen King. Carrie is a young girl with telekinetic powers who is bullied at school. The events that unfold, especially towards the end, are quite eerie as she takes revenge in a very disturbing way.
One common theme is perseverance. Business women often face more obstacles than men, so they have to keep pushing forward in their business ventures. For example, in many stories, they might face sexism from investors or colleagues but still manage to succeed. Another theme is innovation. Business women usually bring fresh ideas to the table, like how some have introduced new products or business models. Also, leadership is a key theme. They have to lead their teams and inspire others to follow their vision in the business world.
One common theme could be the loss of self - identity. As women's roles are restricted or they face certain pressures, they may start to lose a sense of who they are.
One common theme is the struggle against oppression. Black women often face both racial and gender discrimination, and this is reflected in their stories. Another theme is family. Family relationships, both the good and the bad, play a big role. For example, in many stories, the support or lack of support from family members is explored.
One common theme is discrimination. Dalit women face discrimination based on both their caste and gender, and this is often central in these stories. Another theme is resilience. They show how dalit women endure and fight against all the odds stacked against them. For example, a story might show a dalit woman standing up to a landlord who tries to exploit her because of her caste.