The Disabled Detective. Representation of Disability and Immobility in Jeffery Deaver's Lincoln Rhyme Novels

Bachelor Thesis , 2019 , 27 Pages , Grade: 1,7

English Language and Literature Studies - Literature

The first chapter of this bachelor's thesis is dedicated to disability studies in literature, their development history, their theory and especially scholars' achievements. We will touch upon historical events regarding the disability movement until we move on to the most influential works of literary scholars. The fundamental shift in research questions is extraordinary and will be discussed chronologically. To narrow the main topic down, detective fiction is the noteworthy sub-genre. The differences between crime- and detective fiction are briefly discussed and conspicuous characteristics of this type of literature are summarized. In a shift of attention towards disabled detectives in literature, the main concern will be their specific position and their emblematic profit towards the fictional literature. How literature in general and especially detective fiction can benefit from inclusion and representation of disability will be the last point of interest before moving on to the main topic of this essay.

Conflating the knowledge acquired, this thesis will analyse three of Jeffery Deaver's Lincoln Rhyme novels. This is based on three categories to analyse how disability is represented in these novels. The chapter “Styles of Motion” will
revolve around movement quite literally as the quadriplegic detective moves seldom or not at all as well as metaphorically in terms of moving through time and space in the plot. The subsequent chapter “Modes of Thinking” focuses on the perception of disability from the disabled character's perspective. How do they feel towards the disability and what, if anything, do they do to conquer it? “Forms of Communication” concentrates on the perception of
disability from the outside, in other words, it will concentrate on questions such as: How do other characters address the disability and what kind of relationship form the addressee and the addresser?

The concluding chapter will build the bridge between disability studies in literature and how the shift that happened in theory was implemented in practice, the phrase “Not Despite but Because” will be elaborated and the development of the character Lincoln Rhyme is analysed in context to the current main concern of literature disability studies.

Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)

• 1. Introduction.
• 2. Contextualising Disabled Detectives Studies and the Novels....
• 2.1 Disability Studies in Literature
• 2.2 Detective Fiction
• 2.3 Disabled Detectives.....
• 3. Jeffery Deaver's Lincoln Rhyme Novels and its Characters.
• 4. Representation of Disability in the Series
• 4.1 Styles of Motion.....
• 4.2 Modes of Thinking .\li>
• 4.3 Forms of Communicating
• 4.4 Not Despite but Because Of...\li>
• 5. Conclusion......

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)

This study aims to analyze the representation of disability and immobility in Jeffery Deaver's Lincoln Rhyme novels, examining how disability is portrayed within the context of crime fiction and the evolving field of disability studies in literature.

• The development of Disability Studies in Literature and its critical lens for examining representations of disability.
• The specific characteristics and conventions of detective fiction and how they intersect with disability representations.
• The portrayal of disability and immobility in the Lincoln Rhyme novels, particularly in terms of physical movement, cognitive processes, and communication.
• The exploration of how disability is addressed and understood within the narrative, considering both the perspective of the disabled character and the reactions of other characters.
• The evolution of the character of Lincoln Rhyme and the ways in which he challenges and redefines notions of disability.

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)

The first chapter delves into the history and theory of disability studies in literature, tracing the development of the field from its roots in the disability rights movement to its emergence as a distinct academic discipline. This chapter examines the shift in critical perspectives on disability representation, from earlier approaches that focused on visibility to more nuanced analyses of disability as a lived experience.

The second chapter introduces the subgenre of detective fiction and its relationship to disability representations. It explores how disability can be both a challenge and an asset for detectives in the narrative, considering the ways in which disability can shape their perception of the world and their approaches to problem-solving.

The third chapter focuses on Jeffery Deaver's Lincoln Rhyme novels, providing an overview of the series and its central character. It explores the ways in which Deaver's novels represent disability through themes of physical mobility, cognitive processes, and communication.

The fourth chapter analyzes specific aspects of disability representation in the Lincoln Rhyme novels, considering the ways in which Lincoln's disability affects his movement, thinking, and communication. This chapter examines how these aspects of disability are portrayed from both Lincoln's perspective and the perspectives of other characters.

Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)

The key concepts and terms that define the study include disability studies in literature, detective fiction, representation of disability, immobility, quadriplegia, cognitive processes, communication, and the Lincoln Rhyme novels.

• College: University of Bremen
• Grade: 1,7
• Author: Sophy Mindt (Author)
• Publication Year: 2019
• Pages: 27
• Catalog Number: V1149740
• ISBN (eBook): 9783346535610
• ISBN (Book): 9783346535627
• Language: English
• Tags: Disability Studies, Disability, Literatur, Literature, Lincoln Rhyme, Detektive, Detective, Disabled