Description
Title"This is why I am different from the others"
Date Created2012
Other Date2012-05 (degree)
SubjectEnglish, Abjection in literature, Rowling, J. K.--Criticism and interpretation, Rowling, J. K.--Characters--Harry Potter, Faulkner, William, 1897-1962--Characters-- Light in August, Faulkner, William, 1897-1962--Criticism and interpretation, Keyes, Daniel--Characters-- Flowers for Algernon, Keyes, Daniel--Criticism and interpretation
Extentiv, 80 p.
DescriptionThis thesis examines Tom Riddle of the Harry Potter novels by J.K. Rowling
(1997-2007), Joe Christmas of Light in August by William Faulkner (1932), and Charlie
Gordon of Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes (1966) in the context of Julia
Kristeva’s theory of the abject. The abject is that which challenges the border between
the self, or the state, and that which is outside of it. As such, encounters with the abject
trigger reactions of fear, horror, anxiety, or disgust. I argue that these characters—whose
identities defy categorization because they are between wizard and Muggle, black and
white, and genius and moron—are abject, and thus elicit terror in those who encounter
them. Their abjection precludes them from belonging to any sort of community. Moreover, each text highlights its character’s ambiguous, abject identity by associating him with the filth that threatens the body, i.e. blood, vomit, feces, etc. This juxtaposition shows how the characters, as the filth of their societies, are cast out in the name of protecting the clean and proper state. In an increasingly global society, in which borders are porous and rights are expanding, I argue that this refusal to challenge or minimize the border between the self/state and that which is outside of it increases both the self and the
state’s vulnerability. By perpetuating ideals of acceptable identities, we create the abject
and subject ourselves to feelings terror and anxiety when the clean and proper body, or
the clean and proper state, is undoubtedly threatened. I suggest that the abject—and the
resulting terror—cannot be overcome unless we challenge the binary system that
currently creates communities. We must not try to use discipline or exclusion to regulate
or protect from difference. Instead, we must confront our fear and expand the definition of “normal” to include multiple kinds of identities, and diminish anxiety and vulnerability by embracing the reality of the porous border.
NoteM.A.
NoteIncludes bibliographical references
Noteby Maureen Elizabeth Saraco
Genretheses, ETD graduate
Languageeng
CollectionCamden Graduate School Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Organization NameRutgers, The State University of New Jersey
RightsThe author owns the copyright to this work.