Fragmented Subjects in Jonathan Franzen's The Corrections: A Critique of Globalization

Abstract

This dissertation argues that globalization results in producing fragmented self which contradicts its original promise of bringing about happiness and coherent personality as such. In other words, the study illustrates the paradox between the integrating promises and the disintegrating effects of globalization and consumer culture in post-industrial America. Analyzing Jonathan Frazen‘s The Corrections, the study explores the dissociation in the life of the characters and the society they represent. The notion of globalization and the generation gap brought by this phenomenon, the illusion that the drugs can cure depression and anxiety, passion over the financial market correction, question over sexuality and gender roles are some areas causing disorder in the life of the characters. This research has based on the cultural criticism theories on globalization. Globalization is a multi-disciplinary phenomenon. So, to support the cultural aspect of globalization, I have, on and off, brought classical theories of macroeconomics that supports promises of globalization, and the concept of ―supply chain‖ to explain how those promises have been shattered. Including the theories of cultural criticism of Arjun Appadurai, James Annesley, and Joseph Caroll, I have borrowed the concept of globalization and its explanation from The Lexus and the Olive Tree: Understanding Globalization, a comprehensive book of Thomas L. Friedman. The concept of Self-Psychology propounded by Heinz Kuhort has been crucial to understand and analyze fragmented subjects and fragmented self.