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Solutions to the Problems of Western Civilisation in the Novels of Michel Houellebecq

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Solutions to the Problems of Western Civilisation in the Novels of Michel Houellebecq 1 Solutions to the Problems of Western Civilisation in the Novels of Michel Houellebecq Timothy Peter Gouldthorp B.A (English) B.A (French) Honours Class 1 A thesis submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at The University of Queensland in 2017 School of Languages and Cultures 2 Abstract This thesis argues that the novels of controversial French author Michel Houellebecq not only diagnose profound problems in contemporary Western civilisation, but also envisage the possibility of resolving them. Many studies do not believe that Houellebecq’s novels propose any genuine solutions, and those that do arguably do not take into consideration the extent to which solutions in the novels emerge through a sustained reflection on the underlying causes of contemporary social problems. Previous studies have understandably focused on problems such as social atomisation, commodification of individuals as objects of erotic consumption, the breakdown of community and family life and the loss of transcendental values. However, these studies have tended to consider these problems within their specific social context. This thesis, in contrast, aims to show that Houellebecq’s novels frame contemporary social phenomena within a much broader biological and historical perspective. Taking this approach, it reveals that Houellebecq’s novels are able to envisage solutions precisely because they look beyond an apparently intractable social reality to its conceivably modifiable biological and historical bases. The thesis focuses on the following four novels: Les Particules élémentaires (1998), La Possibilité d’une île (2005), La Carte et le territoire (2010) and Soumission (2015). After situating Houellebecq’s novels within a naturalistic tradition in the introduction, it shows, through a close reading of Les Particules élémentaires and La Possibilité d’une île, how Houellebecq envisages the creation of posthuman beings through the use of speculative biotechnology as a possible, albeit problematic, solution to the problems listed above. The analysis of these two novels reveals that no solution is possible unless it modifies human biology or involves a historical bifurcation away from the West’s centuries-old Enlightenment tradition. Consistent with this, our probing of the role of art and authenticity in La Carte et le territoire leads us to conclude that the novel does not envisage any viable alternatives for contemporary Western civilisation in the foreseeable future. On the other hand, Islam and a return to traditional, patriarchal values, as imagined in Soumission, does represent a possible solution as it represents a radical rejection of Western values. The thesis argues that, in spite of obvious differences, the theistic solution in Soumission shares many essential features with 3 the posthuman solution such as the promise of individual immortality and the deflation of personal liberty. Without denying the specifically literary qualities in Houellebecq’s œuvre, this thesis contends that Houellebecq’s novels, in the tradition of 19th-century naturalist writers such as Zola, are relevant to contemporary Western society in the “real world” and should not be confined to the realm of fiction. The conclusion explores this real-world relevance by means of a comparison between ideas in the novels and ideas expressed by Houellebecq in non-fiction and interviews. By delineating their core ideology and exploring the solutions they propose, the thesis opens the way for further real-world engagement with the ideas in Houellebecq’s novels in the context of broader debates about Western civilisation, its discontents, and its future fate. 4 Declaration by Author This thesis is composed of my original work, and contains no material previously published or written by another person except where due reference has been made in the text. I have clearly stated the contribution by others to jointly-authored works that I have included in my thesis. I have clearly stated the contribution of others to my thesis as a whole, including statistical assistance, survey design, data analysis, significant technical procedures, professional editorial advice, and any other original research work used or reported in my thesis. The content of my thesis is the result of work I have carried out since the commencement of my research higher degree candidature and does not include a substantial part of work that has been submitted to qualify for the award of any other degree or diploma in any university or other tertiary institution. I have clearly stated which parts of my thesis, if any, have been submitted to qualify for another award. I acknowledge that an electronic copy of my thesis must be lodged with the University Library and, subject to the policy and procedures of The University of Queensland, the thesis be made available for research and study in accordance with the Copyright Act 1968 unless a period of embargo has been approved by the Dean of the Graduate School. I acknowledge that copyright of all material contained in my thesis resides with the copyright holder(s) of that material. Where appropriate I have obtained copyright permission from the copyright holder to reproduce material in this thesis. 5 Publications During Candidature No publications Publications Included in this Thesis No publications included Contributions by Others to the Thesis No contributions by others Statement of Parts of the Thesis Submitted to Qualify for the Award of Another Degree None 6 Acknowledgments This thesis was written with the assistance of an Australian Postgraduate Award. Professional proof-reading was undertaken by Jenny Davis Barnett. I would like to thank, firstly, my supervisors Greg Hainge and Joe Hardwick for their indefatigable support and guidance throughout the period of candidature. I would like, secondly, to thank Amy Hubbell for her valuable feedback on drafts of this thesis. I would like, thirdly, to thank Barbara Hanna for all the help she has given me in her capacity as Postgraduate Coordinator. Finally, I would like to thank Sylvia Chiang for her support during the writing of this thesis. 7 Keywords Houellebecq, French literature, posthuman, Comte, Islam, tradition, Western civilisation, solutions Australia and New Zealand Standard Research Classifications ANZSRC code: 200511 (Literature in French) 100% Fields of Research classifications FoR code: 2005 (Literary Studies) 100% 8 Table of Contents Introduction ……………………………………………………………………….……………p. 11 The real-world relevance of Houellebecq’s novels ………………………………………..…….p. 13 Zola and naturalism ….………………………………………………………….………………p. 14 Houellebecq’s novels compared with Zola’s naturalism ……………………………………..…p. 18 Critical approaches to Houellebecq and his novels ………………………….…..……………...p. 23 Justification of primary corpus ……………………………………………..…………………...p. 34 Outline of argument ..…………………………………………………………………………....p. 41 Chapter 1 Les Particules élémentaires ……………………………………………………..p. 48 Summary of novel ………………………………………………………………………….……p. 49 Secondary literature and significance of Comte ………………………………………………...p. 49 A utopian, technological solution ………………………………………………………………..p. 54 The traumatic but inevitable decline of traditional values …………………………………...….p. 58 Reason and science drive history …………………………………………………………..……p. 60 The necessity of love and religion ………………………………………………………………p. 62 The necessity of a collective rather than an individual solution ………………………………...p. 66 Political consensus and the implementation of utopia …………………………………………..p. 68 Houellebecq's biotechnological solution ……………….…………………………………….....p. 71 Les Particules élémentaires and Huxley’s Brave New World ……………………………….…p. 72 Pessimism about human nature ………………………………………………...………………p. 77 Qualifications to the successful posthuman solution …………………………………………...p. 79 Chapter 2 La Possibilité d’une île ………………………………………..………………..p. 83 Summary of novel …………………………………………………………………………...….p. 84 Critical responses …………………………………………………………………………...…..p. 87 9 Problems of contemporary society ………………………...……………………………….…..p. 91 Depiction of human “savages” …………………………………………………...…………….p. 97 The neo-human solution ………………………………………………………………………..p. 101 Failure of the neo-human solution ……………………………………………..……………….p. 106 The coming of the Futurs ………………………………………………………………………p. 108 Qualifying the solution of the Futurs …………………………………………...……………...p. 112 Conclusion ………………………………………………………………………….…………..p. 113 Chapter 3 La Carte et le territoire …………………………………………...…………….p. 115 Summary of novel ………………………………………………………………...……………p. 115 Critical responses to La carte et le territoire …………………………………………..………p. 117 Baudrillard and the concept of simulation ……………………………………….…………….p. 122 Tradition ………………………………………………………………………………………..p. 125 Work ……………………………………………………………………………………………p. 130 Art ………………………………………………………………………………………………p. 134 Conclusion …………………………………………………………………………..………….p. 139 Chapter 4 Soumission ……………………………………………………………………..p. 141 Summary of novel …………………………………………………………………..………….p. 143 Critical responses to Soumission ……………………………………………………….………p. 145 The possibility of theistic belief …………………………………………………………..……p. 150 Huysmans …………………………………………....................................................................p. 153 Polygamy and arranged marriage …………………………………………..…………………..p. 158 Submission and autonomy ……………………………………………….……………………..p. 165 Renewal of civilisation ……………………………………………………..…………………..p. 167 Demographics ……………………………………………………………………..……………p. 169 Conclusion …………………………………………………………………….………………..p. 171 10
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