Feminist heterosexuality

Aporiaand figurings of the real inTwo on a Tower: Hardy's ‘betweenities’

“…This dénouement may precipitate a transposition of what Margaretta Jolly calls the 'politics of desire' into the 'desire of and for politics'. 22 Yet, although feminism is the logical terminus ad quem here, it is also treated as merely 'à fantasía', especially as Tabitha herself seems to succumb to Swithin on terms implying subordination (p. 307), 23 so that 'political correctness' is cancelled at the point of invocation. Indeed, as one of art's not-so-little ironies 24 here, Tabitha as hypothetical 'solution' to the problem of 'the sacrificially-feminine' herself participates in Lady Constantine's supersession, apparently poised to marry Swithin on Viviette's death: indeed, as she has agreed to act as Swithin's amanuensis (p. 307), he may be said to have secured 'the hand of Tabitha', while he instinctively flinches in his approach to Viviette (p. 305) precisely as a result of her having sacrificed herself for him, her features etched with suffering, her black hair touched with a 'Via Lactea' [¼'Milky Way'] (p. 311).…”