Anthropomorphic Characters As Ecocritical Subjects In Survival Tips For Lunatics By Minhas

Abstract

The readers' interest in anthropomorphic characters is enhanced when they are seen engaged in the use of language in a novel. As a result, it provokes the critical abilities of the readers to think and reflect. Their language usually serves the purpose of unravelling the meta-narratives practiced in any society as they appear as ideological subjects challenging the meta-narratives. As a rubric for this claim, the present research paper explores the language of these characters in the selected text. The paper aims to analyze the use and effect of their dialogues and how they communicate within a specific context and environment as a subject. For analysis, Survival Tips for Lunatics (2014) by Minhas is selected. Moreover, the theory of Subject Formation (1982) by Michel Foucault and Eco-criticism (1996) by Cheryll Glotfelty and Harold Fromm are theoretical frameworks. The methodology opted for the research is Character Analysis from a cognitive perspective. Moreover, an integrated model by Michel Foucault’s (1982) Three modes of subject formation is combined with Walter Kintsch’s (1998) Cognitive Construction Integration model to analyze the text. The analysis of the research reveals that the anthropomorphic characters are shown to have an ecocritical ideology as subjects and are challenging the man-made meta-narratives.