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Artificial Enhancement and the Posthuman Condition in Joseph Conrad’s The Secret Agent

Data publikacji: 07.03.2014

Yearbook of Conrad Studies, 2013, Vol. VIII, s. 133 - 138

https://doi.org/10.4467/20843941YC.13.008.1520

Autorzy

Andrew Bell
The University of York, Heslington York Y010 5DD
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Tytuły

Artificial Enhancement and the Posthuman Condition in Joseph Conrad’s The Secret Agent

Abstrakt

This essay examines the ‘posthuman condition’ and its critical relevance to Joseph Conrad’s The Secret Agent (1907). It will be shown that oppressive examples of constitution-altering technologies find complex and recurrent depiction throughout the novel, often dismantling and redefining the physiques of their respective hosts. Most centrally however, it will be argued that Conrad criticises this notion of the posthuman condition through menacing depictions of ‘the Professor’, crucially emphasising the instability and endangerment potentially associated with the technologically-enhanced constitution. To this end, brief descriptions of The Secret Agent and contemporary conceptions of the posthuman condition will be provided. Thereafter, I shall explore the novel’s disquieting depictions of prosthetic technology and their detrimental effects upon the organic constitution, before then interrogating Conrad’s treatment of the posthuman condition and the devastation apparently inherent to this state of mechanical alteration. Finally, the novel’s ultimate denunciation of the posthuman condition will be considered, with particular reference to the death of Stevie and the numerous depictions of his fragmented body.

Bibliografia

Pobierz bibliografię
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Informacje

Informacje: Yearbook of Conrad Studies, 2013, Vol. VIII, s. 133 - 138

Typ artykułu: Oryginalny artykuł naukowy

Autorzy

The University of York, Heslington York Y010 5DD

Publikacja: 07.03.2014

Status artykułu: Otwarte __T_UNLOCK

Licencja: Żadna

Udział procentowy autorów:

Andrew Bell (Autor) - 100%

Korekty artykułu:

-

Języki publikacji:

Angielski