A Freudian Analysis of The Fatal Sisters

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A Freudian Analysis of The Fatal Sisters

When the psychoanalytical approach is applied to Thomas Gray's "The Fatal Sisters,", each of Freud's three main theories are glaringly apparent. A major factor in the poem's psychoanalytical grisly texture is that the poem is sung by the giants at the loom as they weave. The language they use not only reflects upon the characters, but it offers new insight for Freudian analysis.

The most obvious example of Freud's theories is phallic and yonic symbolism. (HCAL 132) War is being fought by the male warriors and all of the descriptions of the woof of war are rife with phallic symbolism. One prime example of this is line 22, "Pikes must shiver, javelins sing." The valkyries--who are the only characters mentioned by name in the giantess's song--are accompanied by appropriate yonic symbols. "Gondula, and Geira, spread/O'er the youthful king your shield" (31-32) The loom portrays an interesting blend of both types of symbols. The "Sword, that once a monarch bore," (15) is one of the phallic symbols of the loom, dealing with the p...

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