Modern Reinterpretations of the Cuckold

The cuckold has been a neglected character in Western literary history, subject to derision and often cruel comic effects. Yet three major modern novelists portrayed the cuckold as a protagonist: Gustave Flaubert in Madame Bovary, Henry James in The Golden Bowl, and James Joyce in Ulysses. This study compares their portrayal of the cuckold with medieval storytellers' portrayal of him in the fabliau tales. The comparison shows that modern writers used the cuckold to critique Enlightenment modes of knowing, such as setting up territorial boundaries for emerging disciplines and professions. Modern writers also attributed a greater value than medieval writers did to the cuckold's position as a non-phallic man, because he allowed his wife sexual freedom. Finally, they saw the cuckold as the other side of the artist; through him, they explore the possibility that the Everyman can be a vehicle for reflected action, rather than heroic action. This study combines Lacanian psychoanalysis with narratology to analyze the cuckold as a subject and as a compositional resource for modern novelists.

Grantor dc:publisher

Temple University. Libraries

Year dc:date.issued

2010

Author dc:creator

• Levin, Janina

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Brivic, Sheldon, 1943-

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Logan, Peter Melville, 1951-
• Caserio, Robert L., 1944-
• Delany, Samuel R.

• Literature, Modern
• Literature, Comparative
• Betrayal
• Cuckold
• Reflector
• Stupidity

Statement dc:rights

• IN COPYRIGHT- This Rights Statement can be used for an Item that is in copyright. Using this statement implies that the organization making this Item available has determined that the Item is in copyright and either is the rights-holder, has obtained permission from the rights-holder(s) to make their Work(s) available, or makes the Item available under an exception or limitation to copyright (including Fair Use) that entitles it to make the Item available.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Dc Identifier Other

864884780

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:scholarshare.temple.edu:20.500.12613/1726