Investigating Rebellion in Christopher Isherwood's Novel "A Single Man" (PDF)

Academic Paper from the year 2022 in the subject American Studies - Literature, , course: PhD, language: English, abstract: The present study deals with Christopher Isherwood's manipulation of the concept of rebellion in his most prominent novel "A Single Man" (1964). The significance of the current paper is to analyze the novel and explore the theme of rebellion. It may also be useful for those students who have a lack of understanding of this theme to find a simple summary that will benefit them in their studies similar to this topic.

The Isherwoodian novel depicts various stages of rebellion against the chaos of values, the middle-class conventions and against the authoritative moral standards that make certain forms of conduct appear right. There is a quest for spiritual growth and self-development in Isherwood's novel; therefore, the spirit of rebellion becomes milder as the novelist becomes older and more mature.

The aim of this research is to trace Isherwood's experimentation with the concept of rebellion. As the hypothesis of this research goes by, the forms he introduces into it change the conventional understanding of rebellion from a punishable law-breaking act into an instrument to deal with the difficult problems then to raise man to the occasion. Isherwood proves that rebellion is a constructive, not destructive, act whose role necessitates the improvement of the state and the individual.

A Single Man, presents a single day in the life of a lonely aged man who refuses life and locks himself in a small room thinking that the smallness of the room may protect him from the outside world. The conclusions end the study with Isherwood's success in creating art works that suggest the possibility to change rebellion from a retributive act of disobedience into a positive act against tyranny, calling for the renovation of the modern society through a return to the way of God.