The Cosmos and the Cage: Masculinity and Mysticism in Blackwood's ‘The Eccentricity of Simon Parnacute’ (1910)

Algernon Blackwood's fascination with the concept of the personal ‘cage’ and the potential for liberation is central to both his worldview and literary legacy. This article explores these themes in his early, often-overlooked story, ‘The Eccentricity of Simon Parnacute ’, examining its depiction of emotional repression and freedom, particularly within the context of early twentieth-century hegemonic masculinity. Blackwood employs speculative fiction to explore supernatural phenomena but also to examine the speculative possibilities of human experience and societal transformation, offering a nuanced critique of hegemonic masculinity in Edwardian England that underscores his own personal beliefs in the enduring importance of maintaining a connection to the natural world.