As the winner of the 1982 PEN-Faulkner Prize1 and being “acclaimed by
fiction writers and by popular and scholarly writers alike” David
Bradley’s The Chaneysville Incident could establish itself as an important
piece of contemporary literature. Therefore a considerable number of
entries and textual analyses exists meanwhile, whereas the theme
peculiarly central within the studies is the novel’s exemplary relevance for
African-American “historiographic metafiction” (this term was introduced
by Linda Hutcheon in her book A Poetics of Postmodernism). The basic
subject of the novel concerns the protagonist’s, John Washington’s
reconstruction of his past, and thus the process of his change in dealing
with (African-American) history.
However, within this work this perspective has to be broadened in the
sense that Judith Powell, John’s white lover should shift much more into
focus. It is to be proved that Judith’s role in the novel is extraordinarily
necessary to enable the process John is undergoing for her interaction as a
persistent and sensitive lover is the key to a mutual understanding.
Prerequisites for a profound scrutiny of this claim are required; we
need to know what exactly is the way John approaches history, and if that
is changing, but also what is he able of at which stage of the novel? Which
role do racial and other individual aspects play in John’s past and how do
they influence the present?
Relating to potential answers we will go on by having a close look on
the relationship of John and Judith, especially on the kind of their dialogic
interaction. Furthermore, Judith’s part in this process has to be emphasised
to work out her key function by finding out how she interferes, how she
succeeds and why it is especially Judith who is qualified to do so.
Finally, the meaning and the technical representation of
understanding within the novel’s context should be analysed.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- The dilemma of John Washington
- The shadow of racism
- Paternal and historical influences and their late consequences
- The merit of imagination
- John and Judith - the potential of interracial love
- Judith, the therapist and lover
- Approaching the truth
- Approaching a mutual understanding
- The theme of drinking together
- Narrative parallelisms
- Conclusion
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
The aim of this paper is to analyze the role of Judith in David Bradley's novel, "The Chaneysville Incident," and to demonstrate how her relationship with John Washington facilitates his recovery of history through a dialogic process.
- The complex and often antagonistic relationship between John and Judith
- The role of interracial love in understanding and healing historical trauma
- The process of recovering history through dialogic interaction
- The influence of racial and historical factors on John's personal development
- The potential for mutual understanding and healing in the face of historical trauma
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
The first chapter introduces the novel's central protagonist, John Washington, and his struggles with the past. The narrative structure is anachronistic, with John's present-day interactions with Judith and other characters serving as a framework for flashbacks and historical narratives. The chapter explores the historical context of John's experiences, emphasizing the ongoing impact of slavery and racism on African-American individuals and communities.
The second chapter delves deeper into John's personal history, analyzing his relationship with his father and the influence of various role models on his development. The chapter highlights John's internal conflicts and the challenges he faces in navigating his own identity within the context of a complex racial landscape.
The third chapter focuses on the relationship between John and Judith. The chapter explores the dynamics of their relationship, emphasizing Judith's role as a therapist and lover, as well as her contributions to John's process of understanding his own history. The chapter also examines the theme of drinking together as a symbolic representation of shared vulnerability and emotional connection.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
The main keywords and focus topics of the text are: interracial love, historical recovery, dialogic process, African-American history, trauma, identity, racism, John Washington, Judith Powell, The Chaneysville Incident, and David Bradley.
- Citation du texte
- M.A. Theresa Schmidt (Auteur), 2006, The Recovery of History as a Dialogic Process: The Role of Judith in David Bradley’s "The Chaneysville Incident", Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/121013
