Abstract

This thesis aims to illustrate the value of reading modern literary fiction through the theme of the alter ego. In this thesis, I demonstrate how the writer explores the various meanings of the alter ego in composing intensely imaginative works of fiction that negotiate the creative process in conscious terms. The thesis is indebted to the psychocriticism of Charles Maurron, which enables the domain of the alter ego to be examined in formal and aesthetic terms. In connecting a given work's themes to the alter ego motif, this thesis evaluates the impact of the writer's psychology on his work and pays scrupulous attention to the stylistic and structural choices that are enacted during various phases of composition. The alter ego-themed literary texts chosen for this thesis are James Joyce's novel, Ulysses (with special emphasis on the climactic "Ithaca" episode), Tony Kushner's two-part play, Angels in America, and Bret Easton Ellis' novel, American Psycho.

Department

English & Comparative Literature Department

Degree Name

MA in English & Comparative Literature

Graduation Date

6-1-2017

Submission Date

May 2017

First Advisor

Melaney, William

Committee Member 1

Nimis, Stephen

Committee Member 2

Abdel Nasser, Tahia

Extent

57 p.

Document Type

Master's Thesis

Rights

The author retains all rights with regard to copyright. The author certifies that written permission from the owner(s) of third-party copyrighted matter included in the thesis, dissertation, paper, or record of study has been obtained. The author further certifies that IRB approval has been obtained for this thesis, or that IRB approval is not necessary for this thesis. Insofar as this thesis, dissertation, paper, or record of study is an educational record as defined in the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) (20 USC 1232g), the author has granted consent to disclosure of it to anyone who requests a copy.

Institutional Review Board (IRB) Approval

Approval has been obtained for this item

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