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Social Minds and Family Systems -D. H. Lawrence’s Sons and Lovers and Alan Palmer’s Critical Theories-

  • 인문논총
  • 2010, 26(), pp.277-315
  • Publisher : Institute for Human studies, Kyungnam University
  • Research Area : Humanities > Other Humanities

John V. Knapp 1

1Northern Illinois University

Candidate

ABSTRACT

In this essay, I focus on Alan Palmer’s ideas from Fictional Minds (2004) and Social Minds in Fiction (Style, spring 2011; Ohio State UP, January 2011) concerning aspectual points of view and situated identity. For Palmer, “the concept of aspectuality serves as a reminder that ... the storyworld is ... being experienced differently, under other aspects, by all of the characters who are not currently being focalized in the text” (22 in MS version of Style). He then notes my discussion (in the context of family systems theory) of the father, Walter Morel, in Lawrence’s Sons and Lovers as an example of how aspectuality is “a way of bringing to centre stage previously marginalized characters whose voices may not often be heard” (cf. also my Striking at the Joints, 1996). I elaborate on some reasons why previous discussions of literary character in Lawrence’s novel have been so relatively one-sided for/against either spouse, what this critical bias has meant generally for criticism, and why I think this example suggests how Palmer’s work is a major step in a useful critical direction.

Citation status

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