Tracing the Post-Modernist Themes and Techniques in David Lodge’s “Therapy”

1199 Words5 Pages
1. Structure of the Novel/Technique In Post-Modernist fiction, different forms and techniques which may be a complete departure from the conventional way of writing, is accepted as valid. The structure of the novel, ‘Therapy’, is very different from what is generally accepted as a novel. It is divided into four parts. The first part is written as journal, the second part is written as dramatic monologues, the third part is constituted of journal entries and a memoir and the fourth part is a narrative describing the events after they have happened. 2. Narrator The narrator in a conventional novel is usually omniscient or the narration is done in the third person. In Post-Modernist fiction, the narrator may be one of the characters in the novel. Thus, what we get in a view point that may be biased and not shared by others. As one of characters get involved in the narration we get a very narrow insight into the actual happenings. The narrator of ‘Therapy’ is the protagonist, ‘Tubby’. We see other characters through his eyes and know him as he knows himself. The dramatic monologues of the third part of the novel seem to present an outward look on Tubby but the reader finds out later that the monologues were written by Tubby himself which ruins the objectivity of this part. The reader cannot step out of Tubby’s perspective but reads everything filtered through his eyes. Thus, the complete realization of truth is not possible. 3. Concept of Time In Post-Modernist fiction, the feature of chronology is not maintained. There is a shift in time as it moves forwards and backwards. Even the plane of reality on which we positioned keeps on shifting. There is a very smooth transition from reality to imagination. The narrative moves from action to action and not from one day to another. Characters are defined with reference to what will happen to them in the coming

More about Tracing the Post-Modernist Themes and Techniques in David Lodge’s “Therapy”

Open Document