Depression,Paranoia,Alienation

Don DeLillo(1936-)is a post-modern American novelist,dramatist and prose writer.With a wide range of creative themes and post-modern writing styles,DeLillo writes about American society and shows the holographic landscape of post-modern society to his readers.His novel Cosmopolis describes the absurd travel experience of the protagonist Eric Parker during a single day.This novel reveals the influence of science,technology and media on the development of contemporary society and the construction of subject consciousness,and reflects the alienating characteristics of subject consciousness.This paper will apply Edward Soja's Thirdspace theory with Cosmopolis through close reading,in order to understand the physical,psychological and Thirdspace of the text.It will analyse the concrete representation of the subjective consciousness,including depression,paranoia and alienation.It will also discuss the spatial metaphor presented by the influence of urban space on human subjective consciousness which has formed as part of the rapid development of technological civilization and the flow of global capital.This paper is structured into six parts: introduction,theoretical background,three main parts and conclusion.The thesis' introduction presents background of Don DeLillo and Cosmopolis,literature review,purpose and the framework of this thesis.Chapter two presents the theoretical background;firstly,it introduces the early and flourishing period of space theory,and presents the relevant representative theorists.Then,it focuses on Edward Soja's Thirdspace theory,which is the theoretical basis of this thesis.The main sections of this thesis include chapters three,four and five.Chapter three expatiates Eric's depression in the physical space.Firstly,it will analyse Eric's depression as he stands in a skyscraper and on the streets,during which he explores the globalization,multiculturalism and material satisfaction of the modern world causing him to become depressed.The essay will then discuss his indifference in elevators and a limousine,and explore the physical space as a symbol of wealth and position,and how this can bring about depression and make people feel indifferent.Chapter four analyses Eric's conscious expression of paranoia in a psychological space.In life,his psychological state shows an elite character with extreme narcissism and inferiority.This reveals the influence of power and status on Eric's personality.At work,Eric shows an arrogant attitude towards acquaintances and strangers.He also shows strong possessiveness to his lovers.He struggles to integrate into society,which shows readers an alienation image that is similar to paranoia.Chapter five focuses on the alienated representation of the subjects in the Thirdspace.Firstly,through analysis of Eric's self-escapement in theater and Benno's self-isolation in a tenement,the essay explores alienated self-separation in marginal space.Secondly,it expounds the alienated self-retrospection of the subject in memorial space.By describing Eric's memories in a barbershop and Benno's memories in an abandoned tenement,DeLillo expresses the subject's remembrance for the past.Finally,by analyzing Eric's desire to experience death through a science fiction space,this reveals the alienating perception of the subject in the dead space of self-destruction.This paper analyses the alienated representation of the three spaces,which reveals the rapid development of capitalism and this not only brings about innovation of science and technology and the abundance of material life,but also makes the characters lose their subjectivity,which produces depression,paranoia and alienation.Through this novel,DeLillo reveals the potential crisis brought about by industrialization,scientific and technological development in modern urban development,and conveys the his reflections on human development and future destiny.