Interplay Between Presence and Absence in Mailer’sThe Deer Park

Abstract

The present research is an inquiry into the major characters inThe Deer Parkwho are caught in the interplay between presence and absence of pleasure, satisfaction and meaning in their lives. They want to achieve full presence of close human relationship, pleasure and satisfaction, establish family but are never able tofulfill. They are guided by never ending sexual desires and float with them in the chain of supplements with a hope to achieve ‘pleasure in plenitude’. The absence of the ‘signified’ or full presence of sexual satisfaction forces them to suffer from alienation, breaks up in relationship and betrayals.