Manifestations of Seeman’s theory of alienation in Pat Barker’s Regeneration (1991)

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Date
2010
Authors
Senekal, Burgert
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
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Publisher
University of the Free State
Abstract
English: This article examines how Seeman’s theory of alienation (1959) and contemporary interpretations thereof in Geyer (1996), Kalekin-Fishman (1998), and Neal & Collas (2000) in particular, manifest in Pat Barker’s Regeneration (1991). It is argued that Regeneration, Barker’s best known novel, set at Craiglockhart War Hospital during the World War I, provides a specific perspective on alienation in times of war. The article discusses the ways in which Seeman’s notions of powerlessness, meaninglessness, normlessness, and social isolation manifest, and it is argued that the most prominent aspect of Seeman’s alienation in this novel is powerlessness.
Afrikaans: Hierdie artikel ondersoek die manifestasie van Seeman se teorie van vervreemding (1959), sowel as hedendaagse interpretasies daarvan, spesifiek Geyer (1996), Kalekin-Fishman (1998), en Neal & Collas (2000), in Pat Barker se Regeneration (1991). Barker se bekendste roman, Regeneration speel af by Craiglockhart War Hospital tydens die Eerste Wêreldoorlog. Daar word aangevoer dat die roman ’n spesifieke perspektief op vervreemding in ’n oorlogstydperk verskaf. Die artikel bespreek die maniere hoe Seeman se magteloosheid, betekenisloosheid, normloosheid en sosiale isolasie manifesteer, en daar word aangevoer dat die fokus op Seeman se aspek van magteloosheid is.
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Keywords
Alienation, Barker, Pat, Regeneration (1991), Seeman, Melvin
Citation
Senekal, B. (2010). Manifestations of Seeman's theory of alienation in Pat Barker'sRegeneration (1991). Acta Academica, 42(2), 27-49.