The Mythological Strain in Cosmopolis & The Human Stain

Rahmouni, Souad; Maoui, Hocine

مجلة إشكالات في اللغة و الأدب
Volume 11, Numéro 2, Pages 762-775
2022-06-02

The Mythological Strain In Cosmopolis & The Human Stain

Authors : Rahmouni Souad . Maoui Hocine .

Abstract

This article aims to unearth the mythological power lying beneath fictional writing of both American writers Philip Roth and Don DeLillo. The American myth of the New Adam at the core of this study is perceived as the common ground from which Roth and DeLillo inspire to write The Human Stain (2000) and Cosmopolis (2003). In fact, the Adamic myth which harbours this archaic concept of duality of Man with its promised rebirth and belying freedom is investigated by means of an assortment of psychoanalytical and existential views. The heroes’ desire to transcend factual world is meant to strengthen their individualism and denial of reality. The urge to seek self-validation thereby ends in progression towards destruction and it is how Roth and DeLillo manage to question the dreamy side of myth.