St Andrews Research Repository

St Andrews University Home
View Item 
  •   St Andrews Research Repository
  • English (School of)
  • English
  • English Theses
  • View Item
  •   St Andrews Research Repository
  • English (School of)
  • English
  • English Theses
  • View Item
  •   St Andrews Research Repository
  • English (School of)
  • English
  • English Theses
  • View Item
  • Login
JavaScript is disabled for your browser. Some features of this site may not work without it.

The transfiguring event : phenomenological readings of Ian McEwan's late fiction

Date
2012
Author
Andrews, Christina Chandler
Supervisor
Dillon, Sarah
Metadata
Show full item record
Altmetrics Handle Statistics
Abstract
This thesis performs a phenomenological reading of Ian McEwan’s later novels, using the philosophy of Maurice Merleau-Ponty in particular. Chapter One examines fundamental concepts in Merleau-Ponty’s phenomenology—perception, embodiment, inter-subjectivity, and ambiguity in Enduring Love. It also uses Levinas’ idea of ‘the other’ to tease apart the complexities of the novel’s love triangle. Chapter Two examines Merleau-Ponty’s ideas on history and memory and their relation to the self in Black Dogs. The phenomenological understanding of these terms allows us to re-evaluate the novel’s status as ‘memoir’. Chapter Three presents Merleau-Ponty’s ideas on perception and embodiment to explicate the phenomenon of misperception in Atonement. The reading focuses on the ambiguous, problematic nature of perception and the important role the body plays in establishing the ‘truth’ of a traumatic event. Chapter Four investigates being-towards-death in Amsterdam, using both Heidegger’s writings and Merleau-Ponty’s concept of ‘co-existence’. The chapter also highlights Amsterdam’s portrayal of authenticity and the effects of non-representation on the reader. Chapter Five examines On Chesil Beach’s depiction of sexuality and language alongside Merleau-Ponty’s writings on sexual being, the body, and expression. It illustrates that the Merleau-Pontian understanding of bodily and linguistic gesture provides insight into why McEwan’s text focuses on both sexuality and language and how the failure of one often leads to a failure of both. It focuses on the various ‘misreadings’ in On Chesil Beach. Chapter Six examines Saturday and its depiction of being-with-others after 9/11. Merleau-Ponty’s phenomenology articulates the intertwined relationship of subjective and social realities portrayed in the novel. Saturday exemplifies Merleau-Ponty’s argument that literature can show the true potential of phenomenological philosophy. By undertaking a phenomenological-literary study that emphasises the unveiling potential of McEwan’s novels, this thesis illustrates one way that literature, like philosophy, ‘consists in relearning to look at the world’ (Phenomenology of Perception 2002, xxiii).
Type
Thesis, PhD Doctor of Philosophy
Rights
Embargo Date: 2022-02-24
Embargo Reason: Thesis restricted in accordance with University regulations. Electronic copy restricted until 24th February 2022
Collections
  • English Theses
URI
http://hdl.handle.net/10023/3133

Items in the St Andrews Research Repository are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.

Advanced Search

Browse

All of RepositoryCommunities & CollectionsBy Issue DateNamesTitlesSubjectsClassificationTypeFunderThis CollectionBy Issue DateNamesTitlesSubjectsClassificationTypeFunder

My Account

Login

Open Access

To find out how you can benefit from open access to research, see our library web pages and Open Access blog. For open access help contact: openaccess@st-andrews.ac.uk.

Accessibility

Read our Accessibility statement.

How to submit research papers

The full text of research papers can be submitted to the repository via Pure, the University's research information system. For help see our guide: How to deposit in Pure.

Electronic thesis deposit

Help with deposit.

Repository help

For repository help contact: Digital-Repository@st-andrews.ac.uk.

Give Feedback

Cookie policy

This site may use cookies. Please see Terms and Conditions.

Usage statistics

COUNTER-compliant statistics on downloads from the repository are available from the IRUS-UK Service. Contact us for information.

© University of St Andrews Library

University of St Andrews is a charity registered in Scotland, No SC013532.

  • Facebook
  • Twitter