Introduction. Defining the Patriarchal Villain -- Adolf Hitler: The Threat of Absolute Villainy -- Big Brother and O'Brien: The Mystique of Power and the Reproduction of Patriarchal Masculinity -- Morgoth and Sauron: The Problem of Recurring Villainy -- Steerpike: Gormenghast's Angry Young Man -- Ernst Stavro Blofeld, Larger Than Life: The Villain in the James Bond Series -- Richard Onslow Roper and the Labyrinth of Monstrosities: John le Carré's Post-Cold War Villains -- Michael Dobb's Francis Urquhart Trilogy: Democracy at Risk -- Big Ger Cafferty, Crime Boss: The Constant Struggle to Retain Power -- Voldemort and the Limits of Dark Magic: Self-empowerment as Self-destruction -- Conclusions.
Summary:
"Masculinity and Patriarchal Villainy in the British Novel: From Hitler to Voldemort sits at the intersection of literary studies and masculinity studies, arguing that the villain in many works of contemporary British fiction, is a patriarchal figure that embodies an excess of patriarchal power that needs to be controlled by the hero. The villains' stories are enactments of empowerment fantasies and cautionary tales against abusing patriarchal power. While providing readers with in-depth studies of some of the most popular contemporary fiction villains, Sara Martin Alegre shows how current representations of the villain are not only measured against previous literary characters but also against the real-life figure of the archvillain Adolf Hitler"-- Provided by publisher.
Series:
Routledge interdisciplinary perspectives on literature ; 109
This resource is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by State Library of Iowa.