Title: The Infernal Desire Machines of Doctor Hoffman

Author: Angela Carter

Date of First Publication: 1972

Place of Publication: Hart-Davis (UK)

Bibliographic Reference: isfdb

Type: novel

Keywords: WOMEN WRITING MONSTERS; QUEER; FRANKENSTEIN MONSTER

Critical Summary: Carter’s The Infernal Desire Machines of Doctor Hoffman is a psychedelic and surrealist gallivant through a nameless Hispanic country. With a touch of magical realism, the narrative attempts to tackle issues such as feminism, gender, sexuality, desire, order, chaos, and false or sensationalized news.

The story follows the character of Desiderio, the narrator and “hero” of the novel, could not “abnegate reality” for the illusions and manifestations that were infecting and destroying the city, illusions created by Doctor Hoffman and his desire fuelled machines. Even though he could see, and experience these projections, he not only did not, but he could not accept them as a part of reality. Because of his ability to resist the reality manipulations created by Doctor Hoffman, Desiderio is sent on a mission by the “Minister” to assassinate him and stop his machines from destroying reality itself. However, from the very beginning of the novel, it would seem that he is not actually completely immune to Hoffmann’s manipulations, despite what his claim. He finds himself drawn to a character named Albertina, who turns out to be the daughter of Doctor Hoffman himself. Albertina is a somewhat ephemeral/androgynous character who shifts from male to female and animal depending on the setting. Desiderio finds himself drawn to her exotic and dangerous nature, even many years after the end of his mission, and her death.

There are several connections to Mary Shelly’s Frankenstein. The primary one would be Doctor Hoffman himself, a Mad Scientist like Victor Frankenstein. Albertina exists both as a creation of the Doctor and as a tool used by him bring about his new world order. She represents his version of the Creature. Thes monstrous because he seeks to not just destabilize the norms of reality (which could be read as a means to restabilize it in a more ideal way that incorporates both order and disorder), but to destroy them completely. Albertina is a textual example of female sexuality as monstrous, as she intends to use her and Desiderio’s sexual relationship to empower her father’s machines, which would in turn destroy reality. A queer reading can also be seen here as Carter’s Doctor Hoffman’s experiments call into question the very nature of reality, desire, gender, and sexuality itself. Desiderio is attracted to Albertina in her feminine, masculine, and animal like forms. Throughout the novel there are also hints that Desiderio himself is repressing his desires rather than actually being immune to them. In this way, Desiderio (whose name translates to desire and longing) and his repression is a mirror to both Hoffmans, who embody the idea of complete abandonment of restraint.

Administrative Notes: Louis A. Magallanes Jr. CSUF. Edited by Samuel Ortiz.