| Summary: | 碩士 === 國立高雄師範大學 === 英語學系 === 106 === In this thesis, I explore the topics of the abjection in Celeste Ng’s Everything I Never Told You. During one’s life, the subject needs to face the action and process of abjection. I argue the issues of racism, unwanted expectations and corpse in the novel by using Julia Kristeva’s concept of the abjection.
In Chapter Two, I discuss the abjection of racism in the novel. Racism is one of the most significant problems in the novel. The background and environment bring the racist problem for the Lee family because of their father, James. The racist problems are the things they are forced to face. Thus, through the concept of abjection, the Lee family tries hard to cast off the racism in life.
In Chapter Three, I argue the abjection of unwanted expectations of the characters. In our society, people have their expectations from the social pressure and the behavior that should be followed. In the novel, the characters receive different expectations from society, people and themselves. Sometimes, the expectations turn out to be the burdens in life. And then, the abjection of unwanted expectations emerges in lives.
In Chapter Four, I use Kristeva’s idea to discuss the corpse in the novel. Kristeva indicates that corpse is the utmost form of the abjection. Lydia’s corpse can be seen as abject. The corpse of Lydia arouses fear and abjection for the people around her. The death reveals and forces the family to face the problems. Although the abjection makes them struggle to face the fact of Lydia’ death, each of them has his/ her own way to deal with the abjection. In the end, love heals the wound of the abjection in life.
By using Kristeva’s concept of the abjection, I can analyze the paradoxical and ambiguous feeling in the life of each character.
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