Psychoaesthetic Enquiry Into The Incest Motif In Mourning Becomes Electra

This thesis is aimed at exploring the aesthetic significance of the incest motif in Mourning Becomes Electra from the perspective of psychoaesthetics with Edmund Burke's aesthetic theory. The paper tries explaining the causes why the incest motif in Mourning Becomes Electra attracts readers strongly. The paper is composed of four chapters.The first chapter traces the course of the incest motif's evolution from the time of Greek mythology to the modern literary works. Although it has experienced countless variations, it still shocks readers greatly as one of the most important elements in the literary works.In Chapter two, the thesis introduces the cardinal knowledge of psychoaesthetics and Edmund Burke's aesthetic theory. It covers the definition and category of the psychoaesthetics as well as the significance and rationality of applying Edmund Burke's aesthetic theory.The third chapter is a comprehensive investigation of the protagonists'incestuous desire in Mourning Becomes Electra. Built on this survey, the fourth chapter investigates the aesthetic significance of its incest motif by Burke's theory. With the new understanding of Burke's differentiation from the sublime and beautiful, the thesis detects that the incest motif has the qualities of the sublime and beautiful, Burke doesn't believe this. However the compatibility of the sublime and beautiful to some extent is limited for other feelings. After all, incestuous emotion is a complicated and abnormal feeling in people's mind.The incest has been a favored motif for writers. The analysis from the psychoaesthetic point of view highlights its power and aesthetic significance. Therefore, manifold appreciation of the aesthetic elements from literary works could make them reveal more to us.