Abstract
In George MacDonald’s “The Light Princess,” the connection between states of mind and bodily reactions is represented and explored, with a particular focus on the meaning of lightness and heaviness in relation to love and emotions—which the form of the tale itself mirrors by alternating comedy and tragedy. Likewise, “Little Daylight” offers innovative meditations on the female body, its changes, and its interrelation with the mind’s states. Both stories are inspired by the traditional tale “Sleeping Beauty,” but they propose a very different take on the unconscious sleep of mind and body portrayed in the original story by concentrating instead on their complex and dynamic intertwinement. This article aims to elucidate and analyze the provocative representations of the two princesses’ embodied minds in George MacDonald’s unconventional and ingenious fairy tales.
Recommended Citation
Arnavas, Francesca. "Love, the Moon, and the Body: George MacDonald’s “The Light Princess” and “Little Daylight” as Reflections on the Embodied Mind." Marvels & Tales 37.2 (2024). Web. <https://digitalcommons.wayne.edu/marvels/vol37/iss2/5>.
