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1tiger-nina
I'm putting together an application for a ph.d. and would like to compare the narcissistic character, Pechorin, from Mikhail Lermontov's A Hero of Our Time (1840) with a contemporary narcissistic character. The idea is to show how civilization influences the individual and whether it keeps the inner narcissist in check (Freudian idea) or if it can turn an otherwise good and healthy person into a narcissist (Rousseau) independently of the kind of civilization the person is a part of.
Given the fact that I'm very partial to 18th-19th century literature I can't really think of a contemporary narcissistic protagonist (Patrick Bateman is too violent and also a psychopath which, unfortunately, doesn't work for this project).
I'm looking forward to hearing your suggestions!
Nina
Given the fact that I'm very partial to 18th-19th century literature I can't really think of a contemporary narcissistic protagonist (Patrick Bateman is too violent and also a psychopath which, unfortunately, doesn't work for this project).
I'm looking forward to hearing your suggestions!
Nina
22wonderY
What an interesting topic you've dreamed up.
Welcome to LibraryThing.
I did a tag search for narcissist. The main entry has mostly non-fiction, but the one fiction title stands out - The Man Who Loved Children for the reviews posted.
Oops. Didn't look at the pub. date - 1940.
You might have some luck on this page:
http://www.librarything.com/tag/great+male+narcissist
The Ebony Tower 1974
Hmmm, nothing quite contemporary.
Welcome to LibraryThing.
I did a tag search for narcissist. The main entry has mostly non-fiction, but the one fiction title stands out - The Man Who Loved Children for the reviews posted.
Oops. Didn't look at the pub. date - 1940.
You might have some luck on this page:
http://www.librarything.com/tag/great+male+narcissist
The Ebony Tower 1974
Hmmm, nothing quite contemporary.
3razzamajazz
This book. Narcissistic Narrative: The Metafictional Paradox by Linda Hutcheon may be useful for background reading for your doctorate's thesis.
Do these novels fall in this category with the element of narcissist personalities in the major fictional characters?
The Great Gatsby by F.Scott Fitzgerald
The Hours by Michael Cunningham
White Oleander by Janet Fitch- amended
Ulysses by James Joyce
Escaping the Boy: My Life With A Sociopath by Paula Carracsquillo- a novella
There are many reviews of Linda Hutcheon's book in the internet.
Do these novels fall in this category with the element of narcissist personalities in the major fictional characters?
The Great Gatsby by F.Scott Fitzgerald
The Hours by Michael Cunningham
White Oleander by Janet Fitch- amended
Ulysses by James Joyce
Escaping the Boy: My Life With A Sociopath by Paula Carracsquillo- a novella
There are many reviews of Linda Hutcheon's book in the internet.
42wonderY
>3 razzamajazz: You probably mean White Oleander by Janet Fitch.
Here are a couple of webpages discussing the trope:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Narcissism_in_fiction
https://sites.google.com/site/charlesjharwood/the-clinical-narcissist-in-fiction
Here are a couple of webpages discussing the trope:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Narcissism_in_fiction
https://sites.google.com/site/charlesjharwood/the-clinical-narcissist-in-fiction
5rocketjk
How about Holden Caufield and his older brother, Alexander Portnoy? And while we're browsing through the Philip Roth section, any/all of the Nathan Zuckerman novels, or, for sheer bravado, Mickey Sabbath (Sabbath's Theater).
6bluepiano
What a terribly interesting idea this is.
Bateman actually did immediately occur to me. I'm not sure that Pechorin wasn't psychopathic, and I'm not sure that Bateman was in fact ever violent except in fantasies, and the influence of civilisation/consumerism upon the individual would have been fun to explore. I tend to think of them as similar, as I do Maldoror & hero of Purple Cloud along with them.
I can't think of anything modern otherwise with the same sweep, but for narcissistic protagonists it might be worth looking at a couple of Elizabeth Taylor's novels: Angel and The Soul of Kindness might suit--but I could be off the mark, as it's been awhile since I read them. Main character in former though has a goal, which might make her too markedly different from Pechorin. Shall try to think of others that might be worth considering.
Bateman actually did immediately occur to me. I'm not sure that Pechorin wasn't psychopathic, and I'm not sure that Bateman was in fact ever violent except in fantasies, and the influence of civilisation/consumerism upon the individual would have been fun to explore. I tend to think of them as similar, as I do Maldoror & hero of Purple Cloud along with them.
I can't think of anything modern otherwise with the same sweep, but for narcissistic protagonists it might be worth looking at a couple of Elizabeth Taylor's novels: Angel and The Soul of Kindness might suit--but I could be off the mark, as it's been awhile since I read them. Main character in former though has a goal, which might make her too markedly different from Pechorin. Shall try to think of others that might be worth considering.
7aulsmith
The tag "great male narcissist" applies to the author, not necessarily his charaters. A literary critic (sorry don't remember who) opined in the last 5 years or so that American male authors of obvious literary merit are not winning the Nobel Prize because they are largely concerned with themselves and their own emotional lives, while the authors who are winning the nobel tend to be people who are exploring areas outside the general first world experience.
Carry on. Very interesting thread.
Carry on. Very interesting thread.
8SaintClaire 
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I am late to this thread. In October 2015 I published my novel, The Sleeping Serpent (author: Luna Saint Claire) It is the compelling story of a woman's obsession with a spellbinding guru and the struggle to reclaim her life. A gripping masterful account of the seductive manipulations of a sociopath. The main character has Narcissistic Personality Disorder and the scenes depict relationship abuse, manipulation, and control. This is the Amazon ASIN if you would like to check it out. Available on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B016LUUB1K
and all booksellers worldwide. If anyone has advice on how to get my novel listed amongst other novels whose characters are narcissistic I would appreciate the advice. I've tried with Google putting tags on my web page, and social media. And with Amazon and Goodreads. Maybe it takes more time.
and all booksellers worldwide. If anyone has advice on how to get my novel listed amongst other novels whose characters are narcissistic I would appreciate the advice. I've tried with Google putting tags on my web page, and social media. And with Amazon and Goodreads. Maybe it takes more time.
