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88 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1917
The medulla oblongata is a very serious and lovely object.
We have earlier referred to landscapes as representing the female genitals. Hills and rocks are symbols of the male organ. Fruit stands, not for children, but for the breasts. Wild animals mean people in an excited sensual state, and further, evil instincts or passions. Blossoms or flowers indicate women鈥檚 genitals, or, in particular, virginity. Do not forget that blossoms are actually the genitals of a plant.
And, speaking of wood, it is hard to understand how that material came to represent what is maternal and female. But here comparative philology may come to our help. Our German word 鈥楬辞濒锄鈥� seems to come from the same root as the Greek [hule], meaning 鈥榮tuff鈥� 鈥榬aw material鈥�. 鈥� Now there is an island in the Atlantic named 鈥楳adeira鈥�. This name was given to it by the Portuguese when they discovered it, because at that time it was covered all over with woods. For in the Portuguese language 鈥榤补诲别颈谤补鈥� means 鈥榳ood鈥�. You will notice, however, that 鈥榤补诲别颈谤补鈥� is only a slightly modified version of the Latin word 鈥榤补迟别谤颈补鈥�, which once more means 鈥榤aterial鈥� in general. But 鈥榤aterial鈥� is derived from 鈥榤补迟别谤鈥�, 鈥榤other鈥�: the material out of which anything is made is, as it were, mother to it. This ancient view of the thing survives, therefore, in the symbolic use of wood for 鈥榳oman鈥� or 鈥榤other鈥�.
"A slip of the tongue which occurs in Shakespeare's Merchant of Venice, Act III, Scene II, is exceedingly delicate in its poetic motivation and technically brilliant in its handling". (...)
Goethe said, "Where he jokes, there lurks a problem concealed."