and i’m thinking about trying to argue that female romantic poets (specifically smith and barbauld) so frequently referenced the cosmos/space/universe/planets/moon because it was a territory as yet unchartered by men; a space outside of society/structure/patriarchy free of limitations/sense/rationale, one they could freely occupy, within the space of their imagination, without restriction or oppression.

secondly, space to represent the mother (earth born out of the chaos of the universe), hence how the earthly sublime is masculine, but the cosmic sublime and the awe associated with it is feminine.

thirdly, the cosmos and specifically the moon symbolise a lunacy that women found easy to empathise with in a time when passionate/sexual women were frequently diagnosed with ‘hysteria’. and in the conclusion i’m going to argue that this binary/sanctuary was upset by space technology/the space race/the cold war/the infiltration of masculine conflict and competition into a feminine space. whatcha think, followers? you’re far more savvy on this stuff than i.

then i’ve just got to come up with a space pun for the title. i’m thinking star warsy. or star trekky. something final frontiery.