From: John V. Knapp [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
        Subject: Re: vaginal spiders

        Hi folks --

        I am, in this year of 2005, quite amazed at this thread.  As even Sigmund
        once said, sometimes a cigar is just a cigar, and a spider is just an
        arachnid.

        JVK

        ****************


        On Fri, 18 Feb 2005, Murray Schwartz wrote:

        >         From: J. R. Raper [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
        >         Subject: Re: FW: FW: vaginal spiders
        >
        >         Johanna,
        >         That was my sense too, that the visual associations would
        > explain the vagina
        >         symbolism.  Do not many spiders suggest the gorgon heads,
        > including Medusa's
        >         head, which, as I recall, are tried and true vagina symbols,
        > at least for
        >         lit crits?
        >         They combine hideousness with their beauty in death, have the
        > power to turn
        >         people who gaze upon them to stone, and, through their teeth,
        > represent the
        >         much feared vagina dentata.
        >         Hey, the latter are not my wild theories but come out of the
        > Oxf. Companion
        >         to Classical Lit.
        >         Probably there are some attractive spiders too, but . . .
        >         I'll leave it at that.
        >         Jack
        >         ----- Original Message -----

        >         From: "Murray Schwartz" <[log in to unmask]>
        >         To: <[log in to unmask]>
        >         Sent: Friday, February 18, 2005 12:00 PM
        >         Subject: FW: FW: vaginal spiders
        >
        >
        >         >         From: [log in to unmask] [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
        >         >         Subject: Re: FW: vaginal spiders
        >         >
        >         >         Another take:
        >         >
        >         >         Psycholinguistics are important, but our first level of
        >         unconscious structure derives from sensory input.  The symbolism of the
        >         spider might start with the round center plus appendages that reach out.
        >         Black=darkness, too. There is the further aspect of entrapment in its web.
        >         Mother=woman=vagina, no?
        >         >
        >         >         Johanna Tabin
        >         >
        >
        >
        >

        John V. Knapp

        Professor, Dept. of English;
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        Northern Illinois University     http://www.niu.edu/english/jvk/knapp.htm
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