Dimensions Of Monstrosity In Contemporary Narratives: Theory, Psychoanalysis, Postmodernism

Dimensions of Monstrosity in Contemporary Narratives Theory, Psychoanalysis, Postmodernism Andrew Hock-soon Ng Dimensions of Monstrosity in Contemporary Narratives This page intentionally left blank Dimensions of Monstrosity in Contemporary Narratives Theory, Psychoanalysis, Postmodernism Andrew Hock-soon Ng © Andrew Hock-soon Ng 2004 All rights reserved. No reproduction, copy or transmission of this publication may be made without written permission. No paragraph of this publication may be reproduced, copied or transmitted save with written permission or in accordance with the provisions of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, or under the terms of any licence permitting limited copying issued by the Copyright Licensing Agency, 90 Tottenham Court Road, London W1T 4LP. Any person who does any unauthorized act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages. The author has asserted his right to be identified as the author of this work in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. First published 2004 by PALGRAVE MACMILLAN Houndmills, Basingstoke, Hampshire RG21 6XS and 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, N. Y. 10010 Companies and representatives throughout the world PALGRAVE MACMILLAN is the global academic imprint of the Palgrave Macmillan division of St. Martin’s Press, LLC and of Palgrave Macmillan Ltd. Macmillan® is a registered trademark in the United States, United Kingdom and other countries. Palgrave is a registered trademark in the European Union and other countries. ISBN 1–4039–4446–6 This book is printed on paper suitable for recycling and made from fully managed and sustained forest sources. A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Ng, Andrew Hock-soon, 1972– Dimensions of monstrosity in contemporary narratives : theory, psychoanalysis, postmodernism / Andrew Hock-soon Ng. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references (p. ) and index. ISBN 1–4039–4446–6 1. American fiction–20th century–History and criticism. 2. Monsters in literature. 3. American fiction–20th century–History and criticism–Theory, etc. 4. English fiction–20th century–History and criticism–Theory, etc. 5. Psychoanalysis and literature–English speaking countries. 6. English fiction–20th century–History and criticism. 7. Modernism (Literature)–English speaking countries. 8. Subjectivity in literature. 9. Narration (Rhetoric) I. Title. PS374.M544N45 2004 813′.50937–dc22 10 13 9 12 8 11 7 10 6 09 2004050024 5 08 4 07 3 06 2 05 1 04 Printed and bound in Great Britain by Antony Rowe Ltd, Chippenham and Eastbourne For my Family, Malcolm Stevenson and Steve Kirkland This page intentionally left blank Contents Dedication v Acknowledgements viii Introduction: Dimensions of Monstrosity 1 1. Monstrous Space 22 2. Geopolitics of the Serial Killer 65 3. Monstrous Progeny 107 4. Monstrous Body 144 Conclusion: The Language of Monstrosity 175 Notes 188 Bibliography 208 Index 222 vii Acknowledgem