Abstract
Hughes’s relationship with femininity in his work is, to say the least, problematic. Yet, his idea of the Goddess is undoubtedly central to his poetic outlook. This chapter revisits the Hughesian Goddess via Teresa Brennan’s elaboration of Lacan’s ‘foundational fantasy’. This is the positing of woman as the guarantor of truth in order to cement man’s position, which is exactly what Hughes does in relation to the Goddess. Brennan is ambivalent as to whether this is helpful or detrimental, and this chapter explores some of the ways in which it is both.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Copyright information
© 2016 The Author(s)
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
O’Connor, D. (2016). Hughes, the Goddess and the ‘Foundational Fantasy’. In: Ted Hughes and Trauma. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-55792-6_9
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-55792-6_9
Published:
Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, London
Print ISBN: 978-1-137-55791-9
Online ISBN: 978-1-137-55792-6
eBook Packages: Literature, Cultural and Media StudiesLiterature, Cultural and Media Studies (R0)