FANTASY AND THE SELF: A STUDY OF SELECT NOVELS BY NEIL GAIMAN A THESIS SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY Z.D. LALHMANGAIHI MZU REGISTRATION NO-4905 of 2011 Ph.D. REGISTRATION NO-MZU/Ph.D./948 of 11.11.2016 DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH SCHOOL OF EDUCATION AND HUMANITIES JULY 2020 Fantasy and the Self: A Study of Select Novels by Neil Gaiman BY Z.D. Lalhmangaihi Department of English Supervisor: Prof. Margaret L. Pachuau Submitted In partial fulfilment of the requirements of the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in English of Mizoram University, Aizawl MIZORAM UNIVERSITY DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH CERTIFICATE This is to certify that the thesis entitled “Fantasy and the Self: A Study of Select Novels by Neil Gaiman” is the bonafide research conducted by Z.D. Lalhmangaihi under my supervision. Z.D. Lalhmangaihi worked methodically for her thesis being submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Department of English, Mizoram University. This is to further certify that she has fulfilled all the required norms laid down under the Ph.D. regulations of Mizoram University. Neither the thesis as a whole or any part of it was ever submitted to any other University. (Prof. MARGARET L. PACHUAU) Supervisor MIZORAM UNIVERSITY JULY 2020 DECLARATION I, Z.D. Lalhmangaihi, hereby declare that the subject matter of this thesis is the record of work done by me, that the contents of this thesis did not form the basis of the award of any previous degree to me or to the best of my knowledge to anybody else, and that the thesis has not been submitted by me for any research degree in any other University/ Institute. This is being submitted to Mizoram University for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in English. (Z.D. LALHMANGAIHI) Candidate (Prof. K. C. LALTHLAMUANI) (Prof. MARGARET L. PACHUAU) Head Supervisor ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS First and foremost, I thank the Almighty God for his benevolence and guidance who has made all things possible. I express my deep sense of gratitude to my supervisor Prof. Margaret L. Pachuau who has patiently supervised me, reassured me and encouraged me. Her tireless patience, her willingness to read my drafts and her overwhelming response with astounding regularity proved extremely beneficial. I am grateful to the faculty members of the Department of English, Mizoram University for giving me the opportunity to work on the topic I propose. Specifically, I want to acknowledge my family for their constant love, prayers, incessant attention and immeasurable forbearance. Furthermore, I would like to render my utmost gratitude to my friends from the Department of English, Mizoram University who have provided me immense help and encouragement. (Z.D. LALHMANGAIHI) CONTENTS CERTIFICATE DECLARATION ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS CHAPTER I 1-38 Situating Neil Gaiman in the Context of Fantasy Literature CHAPTER II 39-75 Childhood and Fantasy CHAPTER III 76-114 Locating the Self CHAPTER IV 115-153 Fantasy and Reality CHAPTER V 154-171 Conclusion BIBLIOGRAPHY 172-181 BIO-DATA PARTICULARS OF THE CANDIDATE BIO-DATA Name Z.D. Lalhmangaihi Date of Birth 08.10.1990 Gender Female Father’s Name Z.D. Zonuntluanga Mother’s Name PC. Lalsangmawii Permanent Address Serkawn, Lunglei, Mizoram Educational Qualifications : Class Board/University Year Division/Grade Percentage H.S.L.C M.B.S.E 2006 Second Div 57.8% H.S.S.L.C M.B.S.E 2008 First Div 71.2% B.A Delhi University 2011 Second Div 52.54% M.A Mizoram University 2013 Second Div 58.50% M. Phil Mizoram University 2015 O Grade 7.04 SLET SLET Commission, 2018 Assam (NE Region). - - NET U G C 2019 - - PARTICULARS OF THE CANDIDATE NAME OF THE CANDIDATE : Z.D. Lalhmangaihi DEGREE : Ph.D DEPARTMENT : English TITLE OF THE THESIS : Fantasy and the Self: A Study of Select Novels by Neil Gaiman DATE OF ADMISSION : 6th August 2015 APPROVAL OF RESEARCH PROPOSAL : 1. DRC : 2nd November 2016 2. BOARD OF STUDIES : 8th November 2016 3. SCHOOL BOARD : 11th November 2016 MZU REGISTRATION NO : 4905 of 2011 REGISTRATION NO. & DATE : MZU/Ph.D.948 of 11.11.2016 EXTENSION (IF ANY) : NA Head Department of English OTHER RELEVANT INFORMATION: List of Publications and Papers Presented at Seminars/Conference: 1.Published an article entitled “The Fantastic as an Act of Resistance in Neil Gaiman’s Coraline and The Graveyard Book in Labyrinth: An International Refereed Journal of Postmodern Studies. 2.Presented a paper entitled “The Heroine as Hero in Neil Gaiman’s The Ocean at the End of the Lane” at the International Seminar on Women in Text, organized by the Department of Bengali, English, Sanskrit and Philosophy, Jhargram Raj College on 16th-17th March 2018. 3.Presented and published a paper on “Ecological Consciousness in Select Works of Nuchhungi Renthlei” organized by the Department of Mizo, Pachhunga University College on 17th April 2018. 4.Presented a paper entitled “The Search for Continuity in Doris Pilkington’s Follow the Rabbit Proof Fence” at the International Seminar on Indigenous Languages and Cultures: It’s Preservation and Dissemination, organized by Centre of Languages and Cultural Studies, Guwahati University on 21st-22nd September 2018 5.Presented a paper on “The Spirit of Place: Situating Ecological Identity in the Works of Rokunga” in the National seminar on Rethinking Tribal Identity, held on 28th-29th March 2019 organised by the Department of English, Mizoram University. Lalhmangaihi 1 This chapter introduces the introductory components that are related to the framework of Gaiman’s worldview. It focuses on the diverse meanings that have been associated with fantasy literature. It attempts to situate the manner in which the varieties of folk tradition feed fantasy literature and the implication that it bears. The chapter will also address the manner in which Neil Gaiman alters the act of traditional storytelling through visual literacy and pictures. The unique patterning of the secondary world in Gaiman’s works examines and demonstrates the diversity of fantasy literature, and it explores the manner in which Neil Gaiman transforms the conventional approach of understanding fantasy. The four novels which have been selected for the study namely Coraline (2002), The Graveyard Book (2008), Odd and the Frost Giants (2008), The Ocean at the End of the Lane (2013) shall validate and interrelate Neil Gaiman’s works and fantasy literature. “The Muse in Black Leather Jacket” is an epithet that has been used to describe Neil Richard Gaiman (Smith 12). He has created a body of works which has ranked him amongst the most popular writers of the twentieth century. He was born on 10th November 1960 at Portchester, Hampshire in England. He is a British author, screenwriter, comic book writer, poet, and occasional songwriter, who makes public appearances with his “black leather jacket, black jeans, and black t-shirt” (12). The very fact of his popularity is described when “his fans present him with dolls and sculptures inspired by his stories, or paintings they’ve done of characters from his books, and speak of how being exposed to his works changed their lives” (12). A majority of his works have been adapted into films and has received serious attention. In the year 2001, Neil Gaiman wished for his troop of readers “magic and dreams and good madness” and in the year 2012, he wished his readers to “make mistakes…Make glorious amazing mistakes” because this would generate a new experience. His body of works is never limited to “one culture, time period, franchise, story world, or medium” (Porter 15). He opines that through the medium of both “dreams and mistakes” (15) it is possible to widen our range of experience. Due to his life affirming approach to writing, he has won numerous awards (15). In his works he creates: Realistic modern characters: thinking, feeling beings who are called to respond in marvelous ways that they could never have predicted. They touch us because they are lively and force us to interact with them, Lalhmangaihi 2 whether they reside in worlds far way in an interplanetary future or a fictionalized Terran past, whether they are human, hybrid, or immortal (15). Instead of portraying escapist themes in his works, he encourages his readers to envisage upon lives and their society and he creates a mirror for his readers to discover themselves (15). Fantasy occupies the heart of Gaiman’s works which possesses a multifarious genre. It blends seemingly irreconcilable genres such as science fiction, fairytales, the gothic novel, the picaresque, the novel of chivalry including mythology within one and the same narrative (Nikolajeva 139). The term fantasy derives from the Latin word Phantasticus which in turn is derived from the Greek word phantastikos. It is a word that denotes “what is presented to the mind, made visible, visionary, unreal” (Lance 14). Early usage of the term within the terrain of Western culture can be seen in the folklores, mythical stories, and legends which are closely associated with the ritual of the carnival. Throughout history, fantasy has been considered somehow inferior to the mimetic mode. In Defense of Fantasy (1984), Ann Swinfen has denoted at the outset of her study that one of the most challenging tasks of engaging in a serious critical study of fantasy fiction is the problematics of the mindset of the majority of contemporary critics who propagate the idea that “the so-called ‘realist’ mode of writing is somehow more profound, more morally committed, more involved with ‘real’ human concerns than the mode of writing which employs the marvelous” (14). Fantasy has been regarded as an inferior genre ever since Aristotle’s proclamation that the fundamental aspect of art is an imitation.