BECOMING INFINITE: A BAKHTINIAN CONSIDERATION OF DAVID FOSTER WALLACE’S INFINITE JEST

<p>In this study of David Foster Wallace’s <em>Infinite Jest</em>, I combine the linguistic and literary theories of renowned scholar Mikhail Bakhtin to create a new lens through which to consider Wallace’s thematic project. Combining Bakhtin’s linguistic theories of dialogic conflict and heteroglossia with his literary theories on the grotesque provides an integrated stylistic methodology that illustrates the connections between Wallace’s use of imagery and style. In view of his use of both grotesque liminal imagery and dialogized heteroglossia, Wallace’s seemingly obsessive use of language is recast as a manifestation of grotesque embodiment that reflects the postmodern mileau in which he writes. I propose that Wallace crafts a series of grotesque stylistic devices that shape his words to match his theme. I propose two particular grotesque stylistic devices: narrative bleed in which the seemingly neutral narrative voice begins to reflect particular character discourses and character-to-character voice bleed in which dialogic conflict between characters is dramatically rendered within the novel.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Arts in English Composition

Level thesis:degree_level

Restricted Thesis: Campus only access

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

English

Year dc:date.available

2014

Author dc:creator

• Lafond, Brianna Nicole

Contributors dc:contributor

• Chad Luck

• David Foster Wallace
• Grotesque Stylistics
• Bakhtin
• Literature
• Linguistics
• Infinite Jest
• Literature in English, North America

Repository record dc:identifier

https://scholarworks.lib.csusb.edu/etd/68

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:scholarworks.lib.csusb.edu:etd-1063