Hitler as a Mask against Death Anxiety in Don DeLillo’s ‘White Noise’, A Psychoanalytical Study of Jack’s Psyche
Loading...
Date
2017-06
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
Abstract
In order to understand the changes that are affecting the course of history, shaping the current
present, and forming the face of future, it is necessary to conduct a profound study of literary works
that provide with its characters, which reflect real people, a sample of different individuals
throughout history. These characters can be studied from a psychological point of view in order to
understand human behavior and actions that led to the reality of present-day. Hence, it is crucial
to shed light on the postmodern man that led to the rapid pace of changes in the world. In this
respect, Don DeLillo’s White Noise is a work that provides one of the oddest characters; Jack
Gladney that represents postmodern Americans. With the aid of this—considered literary genius,
American writer, this present study aims at analyzing the psyche of the character Jack and how he
relates to postmodern Americans, with proper regard to Jack’s eminent obsession with the, highly
controversial, Nazi leader Adolf Hitler to conceal his fears. Furthermore, this research will employ
a psychological approach with emphasis on Psychoanalytical theory, mainly Freudian and
Lacanian, from which the findings of this study will be drawn.
Description
Keywords
Key words: Postmodernism, Fear of Death, Death anxiety, Defence Mechanisms, Hitler, Psychology, Psychoanalysis, Don DeLillo, White Noise.