Corporeal Narrative in David Foster Wallace's Fiction

This book serves as a critical examination of contemporary American literature by examining David Foster Wallace's incorporation of corporeal narrative techniques in his novels, with a particular focus on The Broom of the System , Infinite Jest , and The Pale King . By employing corporeal narratology as a conceptual framework, it sheds light on Wallace's profound exploration of the human body and its societal implications. Through detailed analysis, the book reveals how Wallace's narratives serve as a critique of contemporary issues such as self-alienation, consumerism, and the dehumanizing effects of modern society. Designed for scholars and students of literature, cultural studies, and narrative theory, this book provides a comprehensive understanding of Wallace's literary legacy and his keen observations on the complexities of human existence in the modern world.

Provides an overview of Wallace's corporeal narrative techniques in different periods Synthesizes the studies of corporeal narrative and modern social issues in Wallace's works Presents the view of the body in Wallace's fictions

Autorentext

Xiaomeng Wan is an assistant professor in School of Foreign Studies at Tongji University. Dr. Wan received her B.A. degree in Business English and Ph.D. degree in Foreign Languages and Literatures from Shanghai Jiao Tong University, China. She was a visiting student researcher at University of California, Berkeley, from May 2019 to May 2020.

Dr. Wan focuses on the research of contemporary American literature and narrative studies. She has published 17 peer-reviewed papers in domestic and international journals. Her research interests include David Foster Wallace, narratology, and urban fiction.

Inhalt

Introduction.- Surrender to the Unreal of the Real Interior: Grotesque and Misused Bodies in The Broom of the System.- A Real American Type of Sadness: Addicted and Painful Bodies in Infinite Jest .- In the Face of Extreme Boredom: Repressed Bodies and Spiritual Crisis in The Pale King .- Conclusion.