A PSYCHOANALYTICAL AND NARRATOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF MARY FITCHETT JOHNSON’S SONNET “THE WIDOW’S REMARRIAGE”

This paper aims to examine the sonnet of the English Romantic writer, Mary Fitchett Johnson’s “The Widow’s Remarriage” within the framework of psychoanalysis and narratology. Published in 1810, the sonnet narrates the poignant story of a widow who must remarry. Remaining entirely faithful to her deceased husband, the grieving woman accepts the marriage proposal solely for the sake of her child and reveals her agony during the wedding to the eyes of the invited guests. This study analyses the emotional suffering and psychology of this character from the viewpoint of the narrator that is presented as one of the guests at the wedding. It employs narratology to examine the function of the narrator within the textual realm and makes use of the theory of neurosis suggested by Karen Horney to provide a detailed analysis of the protagonist. The study suggests that the female character experiences intricate situation neuroses and adopts unique attitudes towards each one to overcome her pain and manage her emotional state.