One well - known short story that involves themes of a woman, murder and cannibalism is 'The Yellow Wallpaper' by Charlotte Perkins Gilman, though it's more subtly related. The narrator, a woman, descends into a kind of mental 'murder' of her own self - identity due to the oppressive environment she is in. There is also a sense of her being 'consumed' or cannibalized by the society's expectations of her. Another could be some of the works inspired by the real - life case of Elizabeth Bathory, who was a noblewoman accused of murdering young girls and bathing in their blood, which has been fictionalized in various short stories with elements of a woman, murder and the grotesque form of 'cannibalism' (in a metaphorical sense of consuming the life essence of others).
Yes, in some horror and dark - themed short stories this can be found. A woman who has been wronged in a very severe way, like being raped or having her family brutally killed, might turn to murder and in some extreme cases, cannibalism as a form of revenge. For example, in certain underground horror fiction, a woman might target the men who wronged her. She kills them and then, in a fit of rage and insanity, might engage in cannibalistic acts to completely destroy and 'consume' the ones who hurt her. This is often used to show the extreme consequences of trauma and the human psyche pushed to the brink.
Another short story might be 'A Jury of Her Peers' by Susan Glaspell. It focuses on the murder of a man by his wife. The story delves deep into the female perspective, exploring how the women in the story understand the reasons behind the murder that the men investigating the case overlook. It shows the power dynamics between genders and how the female characters are able to piece together the truth about the murder.
The theme of justice, or rather the lack of it, is prevalent too. In some short stories, the woman might feel that the normal channels of justice have failed her. So she takes it upon herself to carry out her own form of justice through murder. It could be that the legal system has let her down in cases of harassment or discrimination, and she believes that murder is the only way to set things right.
In 'The Perfect Murder' short story, the setting could play a crucial role. If it's set in a small town, rumors and secrets might spread easily, which could either help or hinder the perfect murder plan. The story might also explore the concept of justice and how the murderer tries to evade it.
One idea could be a murder in a small, seemingly idyllic town. The victim is a local shop owner. The detective discovers that the motive is related to a long - hidden family secret. Years ago, the shop owner's family had cheated another family out of a valuable piece of land, and the killer is seeking revenge for that injustice.
A murder occurs in a theater. The victim is an actor. The killer could be a jealous understudy who was constantly overshadowed by the victim. The understudy saw an opportunity when the actor was alone backstage and struck. The detective finds out by looking at the understudy's rehearsal schedule which shows they had ample opportunity to plan the murder.
There was a man named Jack. One night, he heard strange noises downstairs. He grabbed a baseball bat and went to check. In the dim living room, he saw a shadowy figure. Before he could react, the figure plunged a knife into his chest. The murderer was a burglar who panicked when Jack showed up.