The Morbid Subject: a New Morphology for Analysis of the Phenomenon of Metamorphosis in Literature
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The Morbid Subject: A New Morphology for Analysis of the Phenomenon of Metamorphosis in Literature Ph.D. in Comparative Literature 2021 Elisabetta Leopardi School of Languages, Literatures and Cultural Studies Trinity College Dublin, University of Dublin Supervisors: Prof. Peter Arnds Prof. Clodagh Brook i I declare that this thesis has not been submitted as an exercise for a degree at this or any other university and it is entirely my own work. I agree to deposit this thesis in the University’s open access institutional repository or allow the library to do so on my behalf, subject to Irish Copyright Legislation and Trinity College Library conditions of use and acknowledgement. Date 06/06/2021 ……………………………………. Signature ……………………………………. ii Table of Contents Abstract .......................................................................................................................... vi Acknowledgements............................................................................................... viii 1. INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................... 1 1.1. Metamorphosis: The Morbid Subject ........................................................................ 1 1.2. Metamorphosis in Literature ....................................................................................... 4 1.2.1. Stranger from Within: The Enigma of Defining Metamorphosis ........................ 4 1.2.2. The Basic Characteristics of Metamorphosis ........................................................ 10 1.2.3. The Forms of Metamorphosis .................................................................................. 19 1.2.4. Modes of Impermanence: Some Modalities of Metamorphosis ......................... 27 1.2.5. Morbidity Renewed: Proposal for a New Morphology of Metamorphosis ....... 35 1.2.6. Literature Selection Criteria ..................................................................................... 42 2. CHAPTER TWO .................................................................................................... 52 2.1. Metamorphosis and the Three Dimensions: Introduction to Substance, Physical Form, and the Sensorial Dimension ......................................................... 52 2.2. Dualism and Metamorphosis ..................................................................................... 53 2.3. Theoretical Premises .................................................................................................... 61 3. CHAPTER THREE ............................................................................................... 90 3.1. SUBSTANTIAL METAMORPHOSES .................................................................. 94 3.1.1. Substantial Metamorphosis in Objects and Inanimate Matter ............................. 96 3.1.1.1. Substantial Metamorphosis from Object/Inanimate Matter to Object/Inanimate Matter ..... 96 3.1.1.2. Substantial Metamorphosis from Object/Inanimate Matter to Sentient Being, and Vice Versa ....................................................................................................................... 102 3.1.2. Substantial Metamorphosis in Sentient Entities .................................................. 105 3.1.2.1. Substantial Metamorphosis from Human to Animal, and Vice Versa ............................ 106 3.1.2.2. Substantial Metamorphosis from Human to Immortal or God ....................................... 110 3.1.2.3. Substantial Metamorphosis from Human to Supernatural Creature ................................ 113 3.1.2.4. Substantial Metamorphosis in the State of Consciousness ............................................ 121 3.1.2.5. Acquisition and Loss of Non-Physical Faculties and Abilities ...................................... 123 3.1.2.6. Displacement of the Rational Mind ............................................................................ 129 3.1.2.7. Substantial Metamorphosis in Personality and Behaviour ............................................. 134 3.1.3. Total and Partial Metamorphoses in Substance .............................................. 138 iii 3.2. PHYSICAL METAMORPHOSES ........................................................................ 140 3.2.1. Physical Metamorphosis in Objects and Inanimate Matter ............................. 141 3.2.1.1. Physical Metamorphosis in the State of Matter ........................................................... 142 3.2.1.2. Metamorphosis in Physical Properties ........................................................................ 143 3.2.2. Physical Metamorphosis in Sentient Entities ...................................................... 145 3.2.2.1. Physical Metamorphosis from Object/Inanimate Matter to Sentient Being, and Vice Versa ............................................................................................................................... 147 3.2.2.2. Metamorphosis in the State of Matter ........................................................................ 149 3.2.2.3. Metamorphosis in Size ............................................................................................. 151 3.2.2.4. Physical Immortality and Invulnerability .................................................................... 153 3.2.2.5. Miscellaneous Physical Metamorphoses .................................................................... 155 3.2.3. Physical Form and Appearance ...................................................................... 158 3.2.4. Total and Partial Metamorphoses in Physical Form ....................................... 161 3.3. SENSORIAL METAMORPHOSES ..................................................................... 164 3.3.1. Metamorphosis in Sensorial Expression ........................................................ 176 3.3.1.1. Metamorphosis in Sensorial Expression: Accidents ..................................................... 176 3.3.1.2. Metamorphosis in Sensorial Expression: Nonmaterial Polymorphism ........................ 187 3.3.1.3. Metamorphosis in Sensorial Expression: Contingent-Polymorphism .......................... 192 3.3.2. Metamorphosis in Sensorial Perception ......................................................... 198 3.3.2.1. Metamorphosis in Sensorial Perception: Senses and Sensations ................................ 198 3.3.2.2. Metamorphosis in Sensorial Perception: Hallucinations .............................................. 204 3.3.3. Total and Partial Metamorphoses in the Sensorial Dimension ......................... 209 3.4. CHAPTER CONCLUSION .................................................................................... 212 4. CHAPTER FOUR ................................................................................................ 214 4.1. A New Morphology of Metamorphosis: The Theory of the Twenty-Seven Combinations ........................................................................................................................ 214 Figure 1 ............................................................................................................................... 215 Figure 2 ............................................................................................................................... 217 Equation 1 ............................................................................................................................ 218 Equation 2 ............................................................................................................................ 218 Equation 3 ............................................................................................................................ 218 Equation 4 ............................................................................................................................ 219 4.1.1. Tree of Combinations (Figure 3) .......................................................................... 220 4.1.2. Table of Combinations (Table 1) .......................................................................... 223 4.2. Steps to Correctly Interpret and Classify Metamorphoses in Literature .... 225 4.3. Special Combinations ............................................................................................... 232 iv 4.3.1. Combination 0 ......................................................................................................... 232 4.3.2. Combination 13 ....................................................................................................... 234 4.4. Application of the Theory of the Twenty-Seven Combinations ......................... 241 4.5. Table of Classified Metamorphoses (Table 2) ...................................................... 245 4.6. Post-Classification Meditations .............................................................................. 269 5. CONCLUSION ....................................................................................................... 274 5.1. “My mind leads me to speak now of forms changed.” ....................................... 274 6. BIBLIOGRAPHY ................................................................................................. 288 7. SECONDARY BIBLIOGRAPHY ............................................................. 298 v Abstract The Morbid Subject: A New Morphology for Analysis of the Phenomenon of Metamorphosis in Literature is the author’s attempt to formulate a cohesive and structured morphology for the phenomenon of metamorphosis as it appears