The other within the self: Postmodern monstrosity in Patrick McGrath's novels ; Benlikteki öteki: Patrick McGrath'in romanlarında postmodern canavarlık

This study aims to examine the evolution process of Gothic monster representations, as well as the human/monster relationship in neo-Gothic novels which became prominent in the postmodern era by focusing upon the monster theory. Therefore, firstly, the cultural and etymological formation of the term "Gothic" is examined. Additionally, the emergence and historical development of Gothic literature are addressed. While examining the theoretical background of the study, the origin of the word monster, the characteristics of the monster theory, and the reflections of the perception regarding monstrosity in the contemporary period are analysed. In this thesis, Patrick McGrath's novels entitled Spider, The Grotesque, and Asylum are analysed as the main source. In accordance with the monster theory conducted in the analyses of the novels, different from physical monsters such as vampires and zombies, the ontological self of modern human being is manifested as the figure of monstrosity. In this analytical framework, unlike traditional monster representations positioned as the "other", the psychology of the postmodern individual, which is ‘’schizophrenic’’ and ‘’abnormal’’, is analysed as the other in the self. Within the postmodern period, the fluidity of borders and the identity conflicts experienced by the individual culminates in the dehumanization and marginalization of the psychological liminality and hybridity in the relevant works. Therefore, McGrath's novels, which consist of transgressive characters such as madmen, murderers, and perverts, symbolize the stigmatization of individuals who do not conform to social norms as "monsters". As a result, this thesis argues that monstrosity is associated with "degenerate" identities and the ‘’abnormal’’ self of individuals by means of psychological and cultural analysis of postmodern characters in McGrath’s selected novels. In this context, these Gothic novels written by Patrick McGrath in the postmodern era often portray monstrosity as a reflection of social fears and ...