Abstract
A jaded salesclerk invents the ideal companion, unaware that a well-constructed character always develops the need and means to influence his own story. Unable to envision herself outside of the tedious K ‘n’ T in rural Wagner, New Hampshire, salesclerk Brett Wilson invents her own adventure in the form of Thom—former Blue Tit road-hand, witty escaped con and imaginary friend.
Though primarily using Thom as a sounding board, Brett also amuses herself by dreaming up his gruelling yet ridiculous flight from the law. All the back-story and attention to detail move Thom from a mental diversion to a mysterious, opinion-charged reality.
Creator and creation quickly find themselves in a comic scuffle—Brett desperate to regain sanity and Thom undermining everyday life until he’s granted self-possession. In the end one of them will have to leave K ‘n’ T.
Type
Thesis, PhD Doctor of Philosophy
Rights
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/
Embargo Reason: Thesis restricted in accordance with University regulations. Print and electronic copy restricted permanently