Schizoic- Self in Ben Elton's Blind Faith
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Central Department of English
Abstract
The present research is a study of schizophrenia and paranoia of the characters through the lens of schizoanalysis in Ben Elton’s Blind Faith. Spiritualism and capitalism lead them to repressed psyche in a post-apocalyptic society where nakedness is modesty, ignorance is wisdom and privacy is dangerous perversion. In such society characters are limit to the particular definition of subject and humanism pushed into the dark by curtailing human freedom and dignity. In the name of God humanism is illegal and pervert, the society, politics and other aspects regulate the human psyche. The research moves ahead with the severe criticism to the binary poles: spiritualism and capitalism which are corrupt and repressive. The repression and oppression among individuals due to their dependency upon these poles and systems are the causes of human suffering and pain in the modern world. Trafford Sewell believes in humanism and to established humanism in a spiritual society, he himself is ready to burn. In the novel Traffords read different books and practices vaccination which is prohibited by society. Similarly Sandra Dee is an underground police officer whose works is to find out the spiritual criminal. But she reads prohibited humanist books and makes friends who are practicing humanism. Chantorria is a Trafford’s wife who is devoted temple members. She believes in faith. In this way all the characters pain and suffering are outcome of the different things like society, politics, and capitalism and so on. So only way to addresses all these diseases is from the lens of schizoanalysis.