“Femmetastic” phenomenology in Paul Valéry in his little letter on myths

Abstract

By a new philosophical analysis, including psychoanalytical and aesthetical accents, of «The Small Letter on the Myths», written by Paul Valéry, we intend to show how a moving, properly phantastic dimension, ―far from imagination with its fixed images―, is at work, developing even a ‘femmetastic’ phenomenological epopee between lovers that exchange letters. Phenomenology, by which we enter a true mythical, even fabulous place, of an amazing transitional and virtual profusion, favouring the new and the unforeseen and therefore challenging creation. Thus, we understand better the meaning of the phrase: «nothing is of such a beauty as that which does not exists» – valéryen lesson par excellence.