The unbearable darkness of loneliness : a biocultural approach to loneliness and death in Jean Rhys’ Good Morning, Midnight
Terho, Pauliina (2019-05-27)
The unbearable darkness of loneliness : a biocultural approach to loneliness and death in Jean Rhys’ Good Morning, Midnight
(27.05.2019)
Julkaisu on tekijänoikeussäännösten alainen. Teosta voi lukea ja tulostaa henkilökohtaista käyttöä varten. Käyttö kaupallisiin tarkoituksiin on kielletty.
avoin
Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on:
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi-fe2019061019886
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi-fe2019061019886
Tiivistelmä
The fear of loneliness has been said to be the strongest motivational drive in humans and after air, water, food and sleep, the desire to avoid loneliness, is the next most ‘insistent and immediate necessity’ (Miljuscovic 2012, xxx). Loneliness has an adaptive function and throughout the evolutionary history of our species it has played an important role in the survival of both individual members as well as the entire species. After prolonged exposure or even in close proximity with others but without the necessary close connection, loneliness can turn maladaptive with severe negative consequences to health and well-being.
Examining loneliness in literature through a multidisciplinary biocultural approach, integrating research findings from multiple fields, can provide otherwise unachievable knowledge about the behavior and feelings of a literary character.
In this thesis I examine the loneliness experienced by the protagonist in Jean Rhys’ 1939 novel Good Morning, Midnight. By utilizing research findings from such fields as neurology, evolutionary psychology and pharmacology I demonstrate how the effects of loneliness are evident in the portrayal of the behavior of the novel’s protagonist and argue that loneliness is the underlying cause of the protagonist’s demise.
Although often viewed as simply an older version of Rhys’ female protagonists, I argue that Sasha Jensen differs from them significantly. She is not financially dependent on men and does not exploit her sexuality for financial gain or security as the other protagonists do. Also, the national identity of the protagonist is not essential to the novel’s plot as it is in Rhys’ other novels.
In addition, I illustrate how the theme of death is present throughout the novel and how it provides clues to validate the interpretation of the novel’s ambiguous ending as Sasha’s death.
Examining loneliness in literature through a multidisciplinary biocultural approach, integrating research findings from multiple fields, can provide otherwise unachievable knowledge about the behavior and feelings of a literary character.
In this thesis I examine the loneliness experienced by the protagonist in Jean Rhys’ 1939 novel Good Morning, Midnight. By utilizing research findings from such fields as neurology, evolutionary psychology and pharmacology I demonstrate how the effects of loneliness are evident in the portrayal of the behavior of the novel’s protagonist and argue that loneliness is the underlying cause of the protagonist’s demise.
Although often viewed as simply an older version of Rhys’ female protagonists, I argue that Sasha Jensen differs from them significantly. She is not financially dependent on men and does not exploit her sexuality for financial gain or security as the other protagonists do. Also, the national identity of the protagonist is not essential to the novel’s plot as it is in Rhys’ other novels.
In addition, I illustrate how the theme of death is present throughout the novel and how it provides clues to validate the interpretation of the novel’s ambiguous ending as Sasha’s death.