This bachelor thesis analyses Oskar Schell, the fictional character from Jonathan Safran Foer's novel "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close". The chosen technique is called „a case study“ since it examines the case of Oskar Schell with an emphasis on his mental state.
The thesis is divided into two main parts; theoretical and practical. The theory briefly deals with the author and his literary purpose, explains the plot, the basic theories of three mental disorders – posttraumatic stress disorder, autism and clinical depression.
The practical part demonstrates symptoms of these illnesses in Oskar's passages and in the end provides a possible diagnosis.
Table of Contents
1 J. S. Foer and the theme of 9/11 in literature
2 Plot synopsis
3 Theory of Oskar's possible mental disorders
3. 1 Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
3. 2 Autism Spectrum Disorder
3. 3 Depression
4 Oskar's character
5 Oskar's mental state
5. 1 Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
5. 2 Autism Spectrum Disorder
5. 3 Depression
5. 4 Diagnosis
Objectives and Scope
This thesis aims to conduct an intensive case study of the fictional character Oskar Schell from Jonathan Safran Foer's novel Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, specifically examining his psychological profile and mental state in the aftermath of his father's death during the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
- Analysis of Oskar Schell's personality through a psychological lens.
- Evaluation of symptoms related to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
- Assessment of traits associated with autism spectrum disorder.
- Investigation into manifestations of clinical depression.
- Determination of a potential hypothetical diagnosis for the protagonist.
Excerpt from the Book
5. 1 Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder is the most frequently mentioned condition among the literary critics studying ELAIC, as its symptoms are the most visible ones when looking at Oskar. There is no doubt that the event Oskar experienced would be classified as traumatic. But despite that, it seems that the terrorist attack itself was not the greatest traumatic event, rather than the unanswered phone calls from his father. And as if all that would not be enough to strongly traumatize a young boy, the question „why didn’t he say ‘I love you’?“ (Foer, p. 207) haunts him night and day. No one in his family apart from him knows about the phone calls and Oskar is unable to talk about what happened to his mother or grandma, admitting that “the secret [became] a hole in the middle of [him] that every happy thing fell into“ (Foer, p. 71), which is an indication of PTSD.
Oskar regularly experiences flashbacks of the phone calls randomly placed throughout his narrations, which corresponds with another PTSD symptom; „The victim undergoes dissociative reactions (e.g., flashbacks) in which the individual feels or acts as if the traumatic event(s) were recurring.“ (APA 2013, p. 271). As for the telephone itself, Oskar does what would be likely for a PTSD victim - immediately hides it in a box and replaces it with a brand new one of the same type so that no one could ever find out about the unanswered calls. When he finds the key in his dad's closet on September 2002, he longs to listen to them once again and admits that he had not taken it out since the worst day, because „it just wasn't possible.“ (Foer, p. 68)
Summary of Chapters
1 J. S. Foer and the theme of 9/11 in literature: Provides biographical information about the author and discusses the scholarly reception of the novel as a piece of post-9/11 literature.
2 Plot synopsis: Outlines the narrative structure of the book, focusing on the three main storylines involving Oskar, his grandfather, and his grandmother.
3 Theory of Oskar's possible mental disorders: Introduces basic psychological definitions of PTSD, autism spectrum disorder, and depression as frameworks for analyzing the protagonist.
4 Oskar's character: Analyzes the traits of the protagonist, highlighting his atypical intellectual attributes and social behaviors.
5 Oskar's mental state: Evaluates the psychological health of Oskar through an empirical demonstration of his behaviors and emotional responses.
5. 1 Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: Examines evidence of trauma, specifically regarding the unanswered phone calls from his father.
5. 2 Autism Spectrum Disorder: Discusses Oskar's high intelligence and unconventional interpersonal behaviors in the context of the autism spectrum.
5. 3 Depression: Explores Oskar's melancholic nature and his concept of wearing "heavy boots" as a metaphor for his depressive state.
5. 4 Diagnosis: Synthesizes the evidence to provide a hypothetical psychological assessment of the character while acknowledging the limitations of diagnosing fiction.
Keywords
Case study, Trauma, 9/11, PTSD, Autism, Asperger's syndrome, Depression, Oskar Schell, Jonathan Safran Foer, Mental state, Psychology, Character analysis, Grief, Behavioral patterns, Comorbidity.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this thesis?
This work is a case study of the fictional character Oskar Schell, aimed at analyzing his mental state and exploring potential psychological disorders he may be exhibiting.
Which mental disorders are specifically examined?
The study focuses on three primary conditions: posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), autism spectrum disorder, and clinical depression.
What is the research goal regarding Oskar's personality?
The goal is to analyze whether Oskar's behaviors, which some might consider eccentric or abnormal, align with recognized symptoms of the aforementioned mental disorders.
What methodology is employed in this research?
The author uses a qualitative analysis approach, contrasting textual excerpts from the novel with definitions and theories sourced from psychological handbooks, specifically the DSM-V.
What does the main body of the work cover?
The main body is divided into theoretical and practical sections, covering the author's intent, the plot, definitions of illnesses, and a chapter-by-chapter application of these theories to Oskar's narrative.
Which keywords best characterize this work?
Key terms include Case study, Trauma, PTSD, Autism, Depression, Oskar Schell, and Jonathan Safran Foer.
How does Oskar cope with his trauma in the novel?
Oskar demonstrates various coping mechanisms, such as his "Reconnaissance Expedition," creating a scrapbook, and eventually, a subtle shift in perspective toward the end of the narrative.
What is the significance of the "heavy boots" metaphor?
The term "heavy boots" is used by Oskar to describe his feelings of depression, paralysis, and the immense weight of his grief following his father's death.
Does the author conclude that Oskar is definitely mentally ill?
The thesis concludes that while evidence for PTSD and depression is strong, diagnosing a fictional character remains subjective and open to multiple interpretations.
- Citar trabajo
- Natalia Gresty (Autor), 2016, A Case Study Of Oskar Schell In J. S. Foer's Novel "Extremely Loud And Incredibly Close", Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/323163
