Humanities

Poe, insanity, and containing the feminine monstrous

T. Hayes

Discover how Edgar Allan Poe's tumultuous relationships with women shaped his portrayal of the feminine monstrous in his stories. This research by Tracy Hayes delves into the complexities of unrestrained womanhood and its implications for masculinity.

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Playback language: English

Index

Abstract

This essay examines how Edgar Allan Poe's life experiences of feminine abandonment and betrayal influenced his fictional portrayal of women. Focusing on "Berenice," "Ligeia," and "The Fall of the House of Usher," the essay analyzes how Poe's male narrators contain the "feminine monstrous," a projection of unrestrained womanhood. Berenice symbolizes the vagina dentata, Ligeia an incubus achieving monstrous metempsychosis, and Madeline Usher a warning and source of destruction. The essay explores the link between Eros and Thanatos in Poe's work, questioning the success of these containments and viewing them as potential interrogations of compromised masculinity.

Publisher

Palgrave Communications

Published On

May 26, 2020

Authors

Tracy Hayes

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