Ligeia by Edgar Allan Poe - Short Story Summary, Analysis, Review

Welcome to the CodeX Cantina where our mission is to get more people talking about books! Was there a theme or meaning you wanted us to talk about further? Let us know in the comments below! Today we talk about Edgar Allan Poe's "Ligeia". Let's talk about religious comparisons, trauma, and more.
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[@liliannjq7006]

Love your guys' analysis, it gave me more insight that kind of complemented my take on the story! So for me the story is about his obsession with her, her obsession with life, and the herculean power of her WILL! (which also ties in with the quote) He struck me as a weak, dependent character with no agency as you said. She on the other hand, my impression of her is the exact opposite of yours, she gave me the creeps right from the get go. She has a demonic rather than angelic feel; someone so hauntingly beautiful and ethereal with a light step you cannot hear, a voice so captivating and low, and those creepy, alien, a-bit-too-large eyes (that can see beyond what we see? know more than we know?), and who possesses a vast amount of knowledge?! A creature like that must hold secrets beyond the scope of us mere mortals and can't help but look at us with a little bit of amusement and pity .. even if she can love us with passion .. she is after all terrible and fantastic .. her love therefore also has to be vast and unfathomable. So when this terrifying creature is temporarily defeated by mortality, she doesn't deign to lie still and take it. Instead, she lingers and haunts the weak recesses of her husbands mind, taking power from his obsession with her and his addictions, making his mind even more pliable to her influence. She is even reflected in the ambience that he "chooses" to surround himself and his new wife with. She takes full hold of him finally, and influences him to poison her victim (poor Rowena!), in his stupefied haze he is unaware that he has become an instrument to this terrible spirit and even if he was, he'd probably only be too happy to do his obsessions bidding. Ligeia the terrible then continues to exercise her powerful will that seems like it is about to beat death itself as she struggles to take over the dead woman's body. How successful she is and for how long remains a mystery, as the narrator is speaking of her in the past tense. Phew! so that was my take :)) By the way, I discovered your channel after reading Absalom, Absalom, and looking for in-depth analysis videos on that mater piece to help tie everything up for me. I believe you did it justice and I thank you both so much for the insight and the pleasurable "ahaaaa" moments I lived with you lol (I binge watched the episodes btw :D) Also, I have never heard of Ligeia! YOU introduced me to it. I saw the video on your channel after watching Absalom, and instantly decided to read it and get back to your video (Because I love everything dark, supernatural and creepy!) So thank you both also for that :)))) I look forward to reading and watching more with you. Next on my list are (I'm going through a civil war and Faulkner moment - Ligeia was a pleasant break lol): Crane's Red Badge of Courage - Faulkner's Sanctuary & Requiem for a Nun - Maybe Sound and Fury after that :) See you guys around!

[@cindyurban150]

I read this story many years ago after seeing the Vincent Price film. I felt it was a story of obsession. The male character was "Tormented" with the memory of Ligeia (and his drug habit). Poe himself,was haunted by the memories of all the women in his life,or the women he couldn't possess or didn't return his love. Poe also suffered from addictions.I often associate Brian DePalma's film "Obsession" or Alfred Hitchcock's' "Vertigo" with a similar theme. All concern a man's obsession with mysterious women with a hidden past. I love it !

[@TheCodeXCantina]

I actually haven’t seen Vertigo yet and I own a Hitchcock collection dvd set

[@jonastrt6388]

such an interisting discussion and very nice analysis, i was blown by your points

[@AliTlays-uc8lr]

Please make an analysis for the shortstory The Antique Ring by Nathaniel Hawthorne it's related to the exam

[@sandras7978]

I do like the discussion and analysis of the story. I would say prehaps its also an selfinsert? Just basede on Poe's life?

[@aroundtheweird]

A Poe story where a woman is put on a pedestal? I am SHOCKED!

[@TheCodeXCantina]

😂