The novel Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides won the Pulitzer Price in 2002. If you endeavour to sum up the story in one sentence, you could say it is an epic tale of an hermaphrodite of Greek origin, of his genealogy and of the first forty years of his life in the USA and in Berlin, told by himself. The question is: Why did Eugenides choose the title “Middlesex” for his novel? and: How can the motive “Middlesex” be traced in the text? In trying to answer this, I used different ways of appraoch. First I strived to get some explanations from the outside, using dictionaries, the internet, and also referring to “Middlemarch” by George Eliot, because the title bears a resemblance to “Middlesex”. Next I found some interviews on the internet in which Eugenides speaks about his book. Then I turned to the novel itself. It is obvious that I looked into the chapter “Middlesex” first. Then I tried to find out whether there was any connection between the hermaphrodite status of Cal and the title. The last step I took was to analyze the relations of the four couples who make up Cal’s entourage in order to learn, if there was anything that linked them to the title. A short evaluation of the results of this quest shall be given in the conclusion of this paper.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- Looking for an Explanation of the Word “Middlesex”
- What the Author says on the Subject in Selected Interviews
- The Chapter “Middlesex” as the Beginning of a Fundamental Change in the Narrator's Life
- The Narrator as an “Intermediate” Person
- Sex as a Factor of Central Importance in the Other Protagonists's Lives.
- Conclusion
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This paper explores the meaning and significance of the title "Middlesex" in Jeffrey Eugenides's novel of the same name. The paper investigates the origins of the title, examining both external sources and the author's own insights, as well as analyzing its implications within the narrative itself. The paper focuses on how the title reflects the protagonist's hermaphroditic identity and its role in shaping the narrative.
- The multi-layered meaning of the title "Middlesex"
- The protagonist's hermaphroditic identity and its connection to the title
- The significance of the title in relation to the novel's themes of gender, identity, and family
- The role of the title in shaping the narrative structure and character development
- Connections between the title "Middlesex" and other works of literature, particularly "Middlemarch" by George Eliot
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
- Introduction: The paper introduces the novel "Middlesex" by Jeffrey Eugenides, which tells the story of a hermaphrodite of Greek origin. It poses the question of the title's meaning and significance in the novel.
- Looking for an Explanation of the Word “Middlesex”: This chapter examines the word "Middlesex" from various perspectives, including its geographical origins, its potential meaning through its constituent parts, and its possible connections to other literary works. It explores the limitations of these interpretations in fully explaining the title's significance.
- What the Author says on the Subject in Selected Interviews: This chapter analyzes interviews with Jeffrey Eugenides, searching for insights into his choice of the title "Middlesex." It explores whether the author provides any direct explanations for the title's meaning or its connection to the narrative.
- The Chapter “Middlesex” as the Beginning of a Fundamental Change in the Narrator's Life: This chapter examines the specific chapter titled "Middlesex" in the novel. It focuses on how this chapter might mark a turning point in the protagonist's life, potentially connecting it to the significance of the title.
- The Narrator as an “Intermediate” Person: This chapter explores the narrator's hermaphroditic identity and its connection to the title "Middlesex." It examines how the protagonist's "intermediate" status might be reflected in the title's meaning.
- Sex as a Factor of Central Importance in the Other Protagonists's Lives.: This chapter analyzes the roles of other characters in the novel and how their experiences with gender and sexuality might relate to the title "Middlesex." It explores whether these experiences contribute to a deeper understanding of the title's significance.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
The main keywords and focus topics of this paper include "Middlesex," "hermaphrodite," "intersex," "gender," "identity," "family," "narrative," "literature," "George Eliot," "Middlemarch," "Eugenides," and "interview." This paper explores the complex relationship between the novel's title and its themes, particularly those of gender and identity.
- Quote paper
- Kathrin Ehlen (Author), 2005, The Different Implications of the Name “Middlesex“ in the Novel of the Same Name by Jeffrey Eugenides , Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/173797
