Philosophy and Performance in David Foster Wallace's "Infinite Jest"

This study is an attempt at a reading of David Foster
Wallace''s 1996 novel "Infinite Jest" that examines
this massive work of fiction from a formal point of
view. After a discussion of Wallace''s position in
postmodern literature the study takes a close look at
some salient stylistic features, especially the
novel''s narrative technique. Thus, it exposes an
underlying formal structure in a novel whose
strategies of opacity and ambiguity have confused and
frustrated many readers. From this basis, the author
develops a conception of "Infinite Jest" as a "novel
of ideas" and examines themes the novel shares with
Plato''s "Republic". The final chapter deals with
various notions of "performance" apparent in
"Infinite Jest", such as role-playing, pretense,
performance for an audience, and ritual.

Autorentext
Born in 1980, Irene received her M.A. in 2008. She is interested in travel, language, literature and film.

Klappentext
This study is an attempt at a reading of David Foster Wallace's 1996 novel "Infinite Jest" that examines this massive work of fiction from a formal point of view. After a discussion of Wallace's position in postmodern literature the study takes a close look at some salient stylistic features, especially the novel's narrative technique. Thus, it exposes an underlying formal structure in a novel whose strategies of opacity and ambiguity have confused and frustrated many readers. From this basis, the author develops a conception of "Infinite Jest" as a "novel of ideas" and examines themes the novel shares with Plato's "Republic". The final chapter deals with various notions of "performance" apparent in "Infinite Jest", such as role-playing, pretense, performance for an audience, and ritual.