Marxist Criticism of the Postmodern Elements in Anthony Burgess' a Clockwork Orange and J. M. Coetzee's Waiting for The
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T. C. Đstanbul Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü Đngiliz Dili ve Edebiyatı Bilim Dalı Yüksek Lisans Tezi Marxist Criticism of the Postmodern Elements in Anthony Burgess’ A Clockwork Orange and J. M. Coetzee’s Waiting For The Barbarians HAZIRLAYAN MERAL HARMANCI 2501020042 Prof. Dr. ESRA MEL ĐKO ĞLU Đstanbul 2005 ÖZ Bu çalı şma Anthony Burgess tarafından yazılan A Clockwork Orange ve J.M. Coetzee tarafından yazılan Waiting for the Barbarians adlı metinlerdeki postmodern unsurları tartı şacaktır. Postmodernism teorisi ‘bütünlük fikri’ nin yıkımına ve decentralizasyon dü şüncesine dayanır, ve bu nedenle de Marxismle kar şıla ştırlıdı ğında, açık bir şekilde problemler içinde oldu ğu görülür. Marxism teorisi sosyal bütünlük, e şitlik ve özgürlük fikirlerine dayandı ğından, postmodernism dü şüncelerine kar şı çıkar. Postmodernism ço ğunlukla sorgulama yolu olarak kabul edilir, ancak e şitli ğe dayanan sosyal bir çözüm sunmalıdır. A Clockwork Orange ve Waiting for the Barbarians metinleri içindeki postmodern unsurları anlamaya çalı şırken Marxism’in uygun görülmesinin sebebi bu fikirdir. ABSTRACT This paper will address Marxist criticism of postmodern elements in the texts A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess and Waiting for the Barbarians by J.M. Coetzee. Postmodernism theory is based on the idea of the decentralization and deconstruction of ‘the idea of wholeness’, and for this reason when it is contrasted with Marxist theory, it is evident that postmodernism is riddled with flaws. Since the Marxism theory relies on social togetherness, equality, and freedom, it counters the thoughts of postmodernism. Postmodernism is usually accepted as a way of questioning, yet it should present a social solution which leans on equality. This idea is the reason why Marxism is pertinent when understanding the postmodern elements within the texts A Clockwork Orange and Waiting for the Barbarians . v FOREWORD Terry Eagleton’s The Illusions of Postmodernism , After Theory and Marx’s The German Ideology are the basic sources for this thesis; therefore Eagleton’s and Marx’s theories are fundamental in order to understand the concept of the study. Terry Eagleton argues that postmodernism is the motto of capitalism. He conveys that what is presented as being postmodern is in fact in accordance with the system. For this reason he states that postmodernism cannot be introduced as an alternative way of thinking. Postmodernism is seen to be new yet it is used by the capitalist order. Eagleton evaluates the theory of Postmodernism to have come to an end. While it rejects all universalised theories and ideologies and while it states the impossibility of an alternative, on the other hand it still has to present some alternatives on social life. Therefore it is thought to be incoherent as a theory. Since Eagleton’s point of view stems from Marxism, The German Ideology will be needed to strengthen the discourse of the study. In The German Ideology , Marx gives the illusions of capitalist thought. Marx’s other scriptures might be taken into consideration; yet, The German Ideology will be sufficient to invert postmodernism. As it is done by Eagleton, postmodernism theory is deconstructed through a Marxist reading. The idea of unity or wholeness is defended against the postmodern comprehension of deconstruction. Dialectic materialism is used throughout the study and it is presented to be the base that can be relied on. Besides, postmodernism assumes that social structure of capitalism has changed and therefore Marxism is not thought to be valid or acceptable in order to evaluate today’s world. But on the contrary, the motto of postmodernism, which claims that today’s capitalism has changed, is in fact illusionary. This thesis shows that capitalism has not changed much; it still gains its profits by exploiting the working class and the impoverished countries. People are still forced to fight in order to survive. They are not given equal chances and opportunities. While some enlarge their profits, the rest are tied to the capitalist order. What has changed is just the name of it: Imperialism is presented as globalism. vi Whatever it is named, multinational capitalism, globalism, or etc, what is expressed is the definition of imperialism or multinational imperialism. When it is closely considered, it would be easy to find out that there is not an alteration in capitalist ideology based on private property. Furthermore it can be seen that the exploitation of the working classes goes on increasingly. Probably what is altered is the increase in concentration of the conditions of exploitation. Postmodernism is a multifunctional shield for the world’s exploitative minority. According to Jameson, Mandel’s theory of Late Capitalism is thought to be fundamental in order to understand postmodernism theory. The age of postmodernism is the age of multinational capitalism. According to Jameson, Marx’s definition of capitalism is not adequate to understand the postmodern age. It is suggested by Jameson that Marx gives the purest stage of capitalism, however what is overlooked by Jameson, is the reality that the capitalist way of production exploits working classes. The aim of capitalist production is still to sell and therefore to profit through the exploiting of the working classes. Whilst composing this thesis, there were many difficulties which I had to confront; yet, thanks to my counsellor Professor Esra Meliko ğlu, I easily overcame such difficulties. Had it not been for Professor Esra Meliko ğlu such a thesis would have been even more tiresome. Additionally, I would like to thank Professor Zeynep Ergun for her support and endless belief in me. I also feel it critical to thank all of my tutors residing in the English Language and Literature Department at Istanbul University. I am forever grateful for their patience, support and assistance. My sincerest thanks and appreciation to you all. I would like to thank my family, my mother Nafiye Harmancı and my father Hüseyin Harmancı, my sisters Canan, Arzu Kader, my brother Ata Hakan, my dear Umut Turunço ğlu and his brother Ufuk Turunço ğlu. Such people were always with me, filling me with words of wisdom and encouragement when I needed it the most. My friends were always with me and were also such great supporters. Therefore I would like to thank Canan Çalı şkan, Çi ğdem Aslan, Rhonda Sultan who is also the editor of this thesis study, Rah şan Sönmez, Meral Uluköylü, R. Koray Çiftçi, Đpek vii Şen. I would also like to thank my friends at Istanbul University Student Culture Centre Theatre Club; particularly the counsellor of our studies in the theatre club Associate Professor Kerem Karabo ğa who constantly reminded me of the importance of self-discipline, human character and the vital necessity of having strong positive thoughts about my goals and ambitions. I would like to thank my high school teachers Zerrin Şişik, Sayme Ko şar and Bedri Habiço ğlu for their virtuous words of wisdom. viii TABLE OF CONTENTS ÖZ ( ABSTRACT) ..................................................................................................v FOREWORD ........................................................................................................ vi TABLE OF CONTENTS ........................................................................................ i INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................1 1 DE-CENTRALIZATION .............................................................................14 2 HISTORY ......................................................................................................38 2.1 History of Postmodernism.......................................................................40 2.2 Postmodern Outlook on History...............................................................45 2.3 New Historicism......................................................................................49 3 CRITICISM ..................................................................................................56 4 RATIONALITY AND ENLIGHTENMENT ...............................................61 5 LANGUAGE / KNOWLEDGE / TRUTH / SUBEJECTIVITY / OBJECTIVITY .....................................................................................................68 6 ART AND THE ARTIST ..............................................................................83 6.1 Art...........................................................................................................83 6.2 The Artist................................................................................................92 7 A CLOCKWORK ORANGE .....................................................................100 8 WATING FOR THE BARBARIANS ........................................................170 9 CONCLUSION ........................................................................................207 APPENDIX .........................................................................................................209 BIBLIOGRAPHY ...............................................................................................211 i INTRODUCTION Postmodernism is a way of thinking about questions that are based around the notions that deconstruct unity or structure. The whole is thought to be totalitarian since it may have abstract or concrete power on its fragments. For the reason that the whole or the idea of unity is thought to be restrictive or oppressive in terms of freedom, fragments are