Lukacs' Theory Of The Novel And The Problematic Consciousness In The Novel's Character

Abstract

The novel theory by the critic and philosopher Georg Lukacs is considered one of the most significant intellectual contributions to the study of literary fiction. Through this theory, he provided a deep insight into the role of the novel in depicting social and historical reality. Influenced by Marxist philosophy, Lukacs extensively analyzes the evolution of the novel as a literary genre, linking this evolution to the social and political changes experienced by societies throughout the ages. His concepts about the "problematic consciousness" of fictional characters are among his most notable contributions in this field. He posits that the novel reflects the internal and external struggles of characters in confronting social and existential contradictions. From this[1] perspective, this research will attempt to address the main issue, which is how Lukacs addresses the idea of "problematic consciousness" in fictional characters and how this consciousness reflects the internal and external conflicts faced by these characters. This will be done by elucidating his theory and ideas about the novel in general, and the fictional character and problematic consciousness in particular.