Introduction I. Contextualizing Barnes and Her Melancholic Writing II. A Critical Survey of Barnes Studies II1. The Definition and Clarification of Key Terms IV. The Structure of the DissertationChapter 1 Ryder: The Anatomy of Melancholic Loss I. Loss of the Symbolic Order: A Cause of Melancholy from Polygamy I1. Anatomy in the Mode of Pseudo Family Chronicle III. Anatomy: A Cure for the Melancholy of LossChapter 2 Ladies Almanack: The Anatomy of Melancholic Sexuality I. Sexual Inversion: A Cause of Melancholy from Lesbianism I1. Anatomy in the Mode of Parodic Almanac III. Anatomy: A Cure for the Melancholy of SexualityChapter 3 Nightwood: The Anatomy of Melancholic Love I. Love for "La Somnambule": A Cause of Melancholy from Obsession I1. Anatomy in the Mode of Quasi Prose-Poetry II1. Anatomy: A Cure for "Love Melancholy" . Chapter 4 The Antiphon: The Anatomy of Melancholic Reconciliation I. Reconciliation of the Splintering Family: A Cause of Melancholy from "Estranged Familiarity" . I1. Anatomy in the Mode of Ironic Morality Play II1. Anatomy: A Failed Cure for the Ontological Melancholy of LifeConclusionBibliography