Persephone Longs for Hades: Embodiment, Vulnerability, Suicide, and Failed Resilience in Louise Glück’s Averno

Resumen

Suicide is a persistent theme in literature. A compelling example of a suicide attempt in contemporary poetry is that of Persephone in Louise Glück’s Averno (2006). In this book of poetry, Glück revisits the ancient myth of Persephone, who pervades contemporary literature representing different social and feminine roles. In Glück’s poetical appropriation, Persephone goes from being Demeter’s daughter to becoming Hades’ wife, always tying her existence to someone else’s. Thus, the aim of my proposal is to, firstly, determine the reception of the myth of Demeter and Persephone in Glück’s appropriation. Secondly, I aim to analyze the concept of vulnerability associated with embodiment and resilience. Thirdly, I address the role of embodiment in Glück’s poetry. After that, I scrutinize the reasons that drive Persephone to consider suicide as a way of resistance and as a way to express agency by showing the results of Persephone’s inability to escape her body because of her condition as a goddess, and the way she fails to reach resilience. Then, I conclude with an overview of the factors that determine Persephone’s potential agency focusing on her body as the locus which articulates her vulnerability.