Is it valid to call Fowles" The Collector resonant of a myth? In order to do so, one must first define the ideas and concepts involved in mythological tales. Often, myths strive to delineate the psychology, customs, or ideals of society or explain aspects of the natural world. They explain why the world is the way it is, and each myth conveys its own message. The Collector, however, shows the twisted psyche of a psychologically impaired man, who honestly believes he is doing no wrong. .
Guy Davenport states that the novel contorts and twists together beauty and madness, allowing it to reach mythological levels. Everything that occurs happens methodically and with extreme precision, and Fowles is able to capture each amazing detail. Ferdinand's every move is meticulously calculated and carried out, which in essence is the beauty. "All this time I never thought it was serious. I know that must sound very strange, but it was so. I used to say, of course, I"ll never do it, this is only pretending" (20), but Clegg was not pretending, and his final decision to capture Miranda is one of mythical proportions. .
Interestingly, there is a Greek Myth that involves the capture and eternal torture of a beautiful and enchanting woman. Persephone, who was the beautiful daughter of Demeter was capture by Hades and turned into the Queen of the Underworld. Both Miranda and Persephone were forced into their own personal underworlds; Miranda's being Ferdinand's cellar. .
The Collector noticeably includes many aspects that would lead one to accurately describe it as resonant as a myth. .
