This discourse focuses on the different concepts of apathy that appear in literature. Not only characterizations of apathetic protagonists, but also abstract concepts of apathy help to explore this special topic. Several important literary works from all sorts of genres function as examples to explain these concepts. Shakespeare’s "Hamlet", Camus’ "The Stranger", Palahniuk’s "Fight Club", Süskind’s "Perfume" and Dick’s "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?" are only few of many literary works which are examined under the aspect of apathy in this work.
“Apathy is the lack of any kind of emotion. As emotions are essential to the conception of the human being, many approaches to understand this phenomenon have been made. The fields of psychology and biology are only two of several sciences which try to explain this phenomenon of alexithymia. But whereas the core and origin of this human condition are still being analysed, literature has been using the theme of apathy in several different ways. How this theme is used and which different concepts of apathy exist, will be examined in this discourse.”
Table of Contents
- 1. Introduction...
- 1.1 What is apathy?
- 2. Apathy as a character trait...
- 3. Unawareness of emotions -The Stranger..
- 3.1 First indications for apathy..
- 3.2 Apathy and moral guilt…
- 3.3 Reliability..
- 3.4 Apathy as Meursault's tragic flaw..
- 4. Controlling/repressing emotions - Hamlet..
- 4.1 Emotion and ratio..
- 4.2 Examples of repressed emotions: Hamlet in interaction with other characters
- 4.3 Soliloquies and motivation...
- 4.4 Apathy as Hamlet's flaw..
- 5. Striving to feel - Fight Club
- 5.1 Disrupting the state of apathy.....
- 5.2 Who is Tyler Durden?
- 5.3 From copy to original – From apathy to emotion...
- 6. Emotion in relation to only one particular feature - Perfume...
- 6.1 Apathy, smell and existence..
- 6.2 Grenouille's apathy and further analysis of the character's motivation
- 6.3 Crime fiction from the view of the murderer...
- 7. Apathy as social phenomenon - Do Androids dream of Electric Sheep?..
- 7.1 The different social groups: three levels of human emotion…
- 7.2 Empathy and emotion for oneself..
- 7.3 Creating apathy in society...
- 7.4 Dystopias and utopias......
- 8. Apathy in the narration - Boyhood
- 9. Apathy in the setting – Endgame and Dubliners
- 10. Intermediate conclusion
- 10.1 The four types of apathetic characters..
- 10.2 The two forms of apathy as external concept......
- 10.3 Apathy in the setting and narration…………..
- 11. Comparison of further key differences
- 11.1 Assimilation to society....
- 11.2 Religion..
- 11.3 Will to live and the downfall..
- 12. Criticism in the text (philosophy in literature)
- 12.1 Existence precedes essence...
- 12.2 Concept of time……………….
- 12.3 Concept of humanism……
- 12.4 Concept of freedom...
- 12.5 Ethical considerations...
- 13. Apathy in poems - Apathy and Enthusiasm...
- 14. The reader's experience / Differences between play, prose and poem..
Objectives and Key Themes
This discourse aims to examine the multifaceted theme of apathy in literature by analyzing its impact on both plot development and reader perception. The discourse will focus on the concept of apathy as a character trait and as an external phenomenon in a literary context. It explores how apathy affects character development within the plot and how it contributes to the overall message conveyed to the reader.
- Apathy as a character trait
- Apathy as an external concept (social phenomenon, apathy of life)
- The impact of apathy on the reader
- The role of existentialist philosophy in analyzing apathy in literature
- The differences in how apathy is presented in different literary genres (plays, novels, poems)
Chapter Summaries
- Introduction: This chapter introduces the concept of apathy, outlining its significance in understanding the human condition and its presence in various fields of study, particularly literature. It highlights the discourse's focus on exploring the concept of apathy within the plot and its impact on the reader.
- Apathy as a Character Trait: This section delves into the portrayal of apathy as a character trait, showcasing different interpretations of apathy through various literary works. It analyzes the character of Meursault in The Stranger who is entirely unaware of his emotions and the contrasting example of Hamlet who represses his emotions. Furthermore, it explores the complexities of the apathetic character of Grenouille in Perfume, whose perception of the world through smell impacts his understanding of emotions and his actions. This chapter concludes by examining the apathetic character of the protagonist in Fight Club, who actively seeks to eliminate his own lack of emotion.
- Apathy as an External Concept: This section moves beyond the individual character and explores how apathy can function as an external concept. It analyzes the concept of apathy of life presented in Fight Club and how apathy can become a social phenomenon, as exemplified by dystopian fiction like Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? This chapter demonstrates how apathy can be a pervasive force influencing not only individual characters but entire societies.
- Apathy in the Narration and Setting: This chapter explores how apathy can be presented in the narrative and setting of a work. It analyzes J. M. Coetzee's Boyhood to illustrate how apathy can manifest in the narrative voice. It then examines Samuel Beckett's Endgame and James Joyce's Dubliners to demonstrate how an apathetic setting can contribute to the overall atmosphere of the work.
- Intermediate Conclusion: This chapter summarizes the different types of apathetic characters and the two forms of apathy as an external concept explored in previous chapters. It also discusses the presence of apathy in the setting and narration.
- Comparison of Further Key Differences: This chapter examines key differences between characters and societies depicted in the analyzed works. It explores themes of assimilation into society, religion, and the will to live.
- Criticism in the Text (Philosophy in Literature): This chapter delves into the critical aspects of the analyzed literary works, focusing on the influence of existentialist philosophy on the understanding of apathy. It explores concepts like "existence precedes essence," the concept of time, humanism, freedom, and ethical considerations in relation to apathy.
Keywords
The main keywords and focus topics of this discourse revolve around the concept of apathy in literature, analyzing its diverse expressions and impact on character development, plot structure, and reader perception. Key themes include apathy as a character trait, apathy as an external concept (social phenomenon, apathy of life), existentialist philosophy, and the impact of apathy on different literary genres.
- Quote paper
- Tony McCracken (Author), 2011, The Forms of Apathy in Literature, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/213395
