The Idea of Writing through the Body in the Reading of Helene Cixous' 'The Laugh of the Medusa'

Volume 2 Issue 1 Winter Edition 2022

Abstract

Aim: The Laugh of the Medusa by Helene Cixous, is a confrontational attack on male supremacy, advocating a complete overthrow of the biased (male) canon of literature, which opened lively debate on how women should write with a concern for exclusion, the transformation of subjectivity, and the struggle for identity. No doubt, this text has been a popular subject of study by researchers but still today, it has not lost its charm. One of the very insurgent concepts it comes up with is the 'ecriture feminine' delineating the idea of writing through the body. Thus, this paper is a humble attempt to project this method of writing by women by taking into consideration its implications and practicability. Methodology and Approach: The study is based on the essay 'The Laugh of the Medusa' by Helene Cixous as a primary text. It has employed the feministic approach to dissect the text. Outcome: The essay emphasizes the status of women writings in a patriarchal literary realm with a priority on the body's role and its repercussions. Conclusions and Suggestions: The paper concludes with the idea that the writings of women, especially with the 'body' motif can be effective in empowering the female voice but the clash or conflict of feministic texts with male counterparts should be put to a balance for fruitful literary and social development.