Relation of relationlessness : alienation in Mrs. Dalloway and Steppenwolf

Abstract

Mrs. Dalloway (1925) and Steppenwolf (1927) are two iconic European modernist novels, both of which address the mental crisis faced by the people suffering in the aftermath of the First World War against the backdrop of the eve of the Economic Crisis of the late 1920s. As noted by Richard Schacht, “alienation” is a catchword of the modern world; but in effect, it is a concept far more complicated than we may assume. Alienation is treated here as not only a sign but also a pathology unique to the modern experience. Through the lenses of Erich Fromm’s and Rahel Jaeggi’s theories of alienation, this dissertation attempts to interpret the malaise of alienation and “the divided self” represented in both novels. Both Fromm and Jaeggi regard alienation as a relation in nature; nevertheless, it is a deficient relation. Therefore, this dissertation chooses to analyze the two leading characters’ relations to others, society, and themselves. As my analysis unfolds, we can see that there is a close connection between alienation and the divided self. This project attempts to highlight the respective responses to alienation offered in both novels, which may shed new light on similar problems in contemporary society.