The Subversive Strategy of Transgression in Elizabeth Bishop's poems

[[abstract]]This thesis focuses on the analysis and exploration of the prominent American poet, Elizabeth Bishop’s works. Intriguingly, Bishop has been overwhelmingly obsessed with the power of subversion as a poet as we witness how she regards her poetics as a locus of transgressive power. In fact, we can hardly find any poet whose works have been so prevalent with the theme of transgression in both poetic and intellectual endeavors. Moreover, Bishop’s own life can be viewed as a representation of transgression in herself as well. In this sense, the poet’s own life topography reflects the theme of her artistic expression and vice versa. My research thus aims to expound the strategy of the poet’s aesthetic of transgression. Discussions of Bishop’s subversive strategy of transgression can be perceived through her focus on the poetic identity as a traveler, her investigation into the issue of monstrosity and animal images, and finally her tactics of delving into the issues of female subjectivity. There are three chapters in the thesis. The Introduction briefly touches upon the correlation between Bishop’s unique identity and her poetic manipulation of transgression shown in her works. And how the poet’s strategy to highlight the voices of the weak can turn out to be a weapon to counterbalance the oppression from the external systems is further explored. Chapter One specifically concentrates on the poet’s childhood traumas in relation to her future identity as a traveler. The power of the traveler who is able to discern subtle differences beyond the surface of phenomena is grasped so as to spotlight the truth that a traveler like Bishop is definitely a transgressor in mind and in the physical boundary for sure. Chapter Two addresses the construction of monstrosity and animal images so as to reveal their power to transgress either social codes or geographical restrictions. Chapter three exposes the tactics utilized by the poet to highlight the specificity of female subjectivity through her feminization of nature and her dealing with female and lesbian position.