Helen in Egypt: A Feminist Reinterpretation of the Myth

Hilda Doolittle's "Helen in Egypt": A Feminist Reinterpretation of Helen of Troy

"Helen in Egypt" is a pivotal work by the American poet Hilda Doolittle, better known as H. D. This literary piece offers a feminist reinterpretation of the myth of Helen of Troy, diverging from the classical Greek epic narrative. Published posthumously in 1961, the poem was written during the 1950s and is often regarded as one of H. D.'s most significant contributions to modernist literature. In this narrative, Helen is depicted not as the cause of the Trojan War through her infidelity but as a multifaceted individual in search of enlightenment and a deeper understanding of her own history, her involvement in the war, and her personal identity. The work is divided into three distinct parts, each consisting of a series of free-verse poems that are introduced by prose sections, which establish the context for the ensuing poetry.

The Impact of World Wars on Doolittle's Writing

The cataclysmic events of the World Wars deeply influenced Hilda Doolittle's personal life and literary output, particularly evident in "Helen in Egypt." The devastation of World War I led to a personal crisis for Doolittle, which included the loss of her brother in combat, the estrangement from her husband Richard Aldington due to war-related stress, and her own near-fatal experience during the 1918 influenza pandemic. These events culminated in a condition she described as "War Phobia," where the mere prospect of conflict could induce severe anxiety. The subsequent World War II period, despite its own horrors, proved to be a time of prolific writing for Doolittle, resulting in some of her most acclaimed work. Her direct and indirect experiences with the wars are mirrored in her writings, where she explicitly condemns the brutality and futility of war, as seen in "Helen in Egypt."