‘ I Am My Own Riddle ’— A. S. Byatt ’ s Christabel LaMotte: Emily Dickinson and Melusina By Nancy Chinn Papers on Language & Literature 37.2 (Spring 2001): Presented by Sherry Lu

The Models in Possession Robert Browning — the model for Ash. Robert Browning — the model for Ash. The model for LaMotte? The model for LaMotte? --Christina Rossetti: too Christian, too self-destructive. --Emily Dickinson: a kind of Lady Shalott. (188) --Melusina: “ I have been Melusina these thirty years ” (501).

LaMotte & Dickinson Being an artist: the necessity for isolation. Being an artist: the necessity for isolation. “ The Lady of Shalott ”— a metaphor for the lives of both Dickinson and LaMotte. “ The Lady of Shalott ”— a metaphor for the lives of both Dickinson and LaMotte. Both LaMotte and Dickinson are influenced by the British female literary tradition. Example: Charlotte Bronte ’ s Jane Eyre. Both LaMotte and Dickinson are influenced by the British female literary tradition. Example: Charlotte Bronte ’ s Jane Eyre.

LaMotte & Dickinson Emilie — LaMotte ’ s grandmother ’ s name (36); a spelling Dickinson used off and on from age seventeen to thirty-one (Sewall 380). Emilie — LaMotte ’ s grandmother ’ s name (36); a spelling Dickinson used off and on from age seventeen to thirty-one (Sewall 380). Family relationship: a close father and a distant mother. Family relationship: a close father and a distant mother. Dickinson — “ Could you tell what home is ” (Letters 475) Dickinson — “ Could you tell what home is ” (Letters 475) LaMotte — “ What is a House? ” (210). LaMotte — “ What is a House? ” (210).

LaMotte & Dickinson Characteristic of writing style: no titles; iambic tetrameter (210); six quatrains and capitalized word (35); dash (128). Characteristic of writing style: no titles; iambic tetrameter (210); six quatrains and capitalized word (35); dash (128). Images of death and pain in their poems. Images of death and pain in their poems. Ex: the caller and the guest are death (37). Ex: the caller and the guest are death (37).

LaMotte & Dickinson Personality: Roland ’ s first view of LaMotte —“ shy poetess ” (38); so is Dickinson. Personality: Roland ’ s first view of LaMotte —“ shy poetess ” (38); so is Dickinson. LaMotte — “ My Solitude is my Treasure, the best thing I have ” (137). LaMotte — “ My Solitude is my Treasure, the best thing I have ” (137). Dickinson – “ The Soul selects her own Society —” (303). Dickinson – “ The Soul selects her own Society —” (303).

LaMotte & Dickinson Another characteristic — the riddle. Ex: “ Who are you? ” (54) “ I ’ m nobody, who are you? ” (288). Another characteristic — the riddle. Ex: “ Who are you? ” (54) “ I ’ m nobody, who are you? ” (288). The riddle: a reminder that — The riddle: a reminder that — (1) many Dickinson ’ s poems remain unsolved. (1) many Dickinson ’ s poems remain unsolved. (2) the quest to “ solve ” a work of literature or define a writer is never complete. (2) the quest to “ solve ” a work of literature or define a writer is never complete. Both of them sent poems in letters and wrote letters that are poems themselves. Both of them sent poems in letters and wrote letters that are poems themselves.

LaMotte and Melusina share the experience of motherhood. share the experience of motherhood. Melusina: a fallen angel; a fertility fairy; the mother of many children; a victim of curses and misfortune. Melusina: a fallen angel; a fertility fairy; the mother of many children; a victim of curses and misfortune. LaMotte shares these characteristics: she is creative as a writer, as a Muse for Ash, and as a mother and grandmother. Moreover, her life changes dramatically, and she becomes an exile. LaMotte shares these characteristics: she is creative as a writer, as a Muse for Ash, and as a mother and grandmother. Moreover, her life changes dramatically, and she becomes an exile.

LaMotte and Melusina Physical descriptions: Melusina — “ How lovely- white her skin her Lord well knew ” (121); LaMotte — “ She was very fair, pale-skinned ” (274). Physical descriptions: Melusina — “ How lovely- white her skin her Lord well knew ” (121); LaMotte — “ She was very fair, pale-skinned ” (274). Melusina — a serpent image; LaMotte — Sabine describes her as “ some sort of serpent, hissing quietly like the pot in the hearth ” (366). Melusina — a serpent image; LaMotte — Sabine describes her as “ some sort of serpent, hissing quietly like the pot in the hearth ” (366).

LaMotte and Melusina LaMotte ’ s three lyrics: LaMotte ’ s three lyrics: 1. “ Our Lady — bearing — Pain ” : a comparison to the Virgin Mary ’ s pain to her son ’ s. 2. LaMotte speaks of the actual birth and seems to suggest a stillbirth. 3. The initial interpretation of this poem is that the child died, which is consistent with LaMotte ’ s never being able to acknowledge her daughter.

LaMotte and Melusina LaMotte suggests that she is being punished for keeping Ash ’ s child from him. LaMotte suggests that she is being punished for keeping Ash ’ s child from him. Just as the curse on the Ancient Mariner is broken by “ bless[ing] them unaware, ” so, too, does little Walter break his grandmother ’ s curse by accepting her. Just as the curse on the Ancient Mariner is broken by “ bless[ing] them unaware, ” so, too, does little Walter break his grandmother ’ s curse by accepting her.