The Psychological Labyrinth in Owl Creek Bridge, Yellow Wallpaper, and

The Psychological Labyrinth in Owl Creek Bridge, Yellow Wallpaper, and garden of Forking PathsFor millennia, the labyrinth has been used as a sacred tool for spiritual enlightenment.Sometimes called a divine imprint because of its prevalence combined with its unfathomable origin,the labyrinth provides a transcendent experience of connection and clarity (What is a Laby-rinth) through the act of walking the winding paths to its center. Unlike a maze, which has deadends and harlequinade turns, the labyrinth has only a single path leading to and from the center theprinciple of the labyrinth is such that a person must traverse every inch of space before reachinghis/her goal. In this way, the labyrinth subverts the logical aspect of the mind (normally dominant)and enables the individual to enter a state of mental calmness, allowing him or her to experiencethe spiritual benefits of a sort of walking meditation. Probably the most famous historical labyrinth is the one constructed by Daedal us to housethe Minotaur in unblemished mythology. In that case, according to Ovid, Daedalus built a house inwhich he confused the usual passages and deceived the eye with a conflicting maze of various peregrine paths (Ariadnes Thread). There is no mention of a specific shape for this house,but traditionally most such mazes have been made in a circular formation. Another famous laby-rinth is built into the floor of the cathedral at Chartres the fact that the same design has beenfound on coins minted at Cnossus gives rise to the speculation that it may be connected to the laby-rinth of Daedalus and the Mi... ...Garden of Forking Paths. The Story and its Writer. Ed. Ann Charters. Boston Bedford Books of St. Martins Press, 1995. 1391-1392.Gilman, Charlotte Perkins. The Yellow Wallpaper. The Story and its Writer. Ed. Ann Charters. Boston Bedford Books of St. Martins Press, 1995.531-542.Green, Edward J. Labyrinth. www.concentric.net/Egreen/prof/otherstudies/labyrinth.html. (accessed 11 /21/99).Irwin, John T. A hint to a Clue Locked Rooms and Labyrinths in Poe and Borges. MasterFILE Premier database from Raritan, Spring 91, Vol.10 Issue 4. <... / print2.asp?records=CURRENT&pFormNum=PrintCitation&pFulIText=ON&kwic=on&deliv> (accessed 11/20/99).What is a Labyrinth?. www.mindspring.com/Iabyrinth/Iabyr2.htm (accessed 11/20/99).