Divine Ecstasy and Erotic Submission: Pauline Réage’s Story of O and the Medieval Mysticism of Mechthild of Magdeburg and Margery Kempe

This thesis explores the thematic and conceptual intersections between Pauline Réage’s Story of O and the medieval mystical writings of Mechthild of Magdeburg and Margery Kempe, focusing on the intertwined dynamics of divine ecstasy and erotic submission. By analyzing the textual representations of bodily suffering, erotic desire, and female submission, this study argues that Story of O—a modern work of literary erotica—engages with a mystical-erotic tradition that echoes the visions and devotional experiences of medieval women mystics. Through close readings, this project examines how both Réage’s protagonist and medieval mystics navigate the paradox of submission as a pathway to empowerment, reframing suffering as a means of achieving spiritual or existential fulfillment. This comparative framework situates Story of O within a broader historical lineage of mystical eroticism, challenging conventional distinctions between religious devotion and sexual surrender. Ultimately, this thesis argues that the gendered narratives of submission, pleasure, and transcendence reflect the psychosexual consequences of patriarchal dominance within society on feminine spirituality and identity.