THE EVOLUTION OF THE BYRONIC HERO IN POSTMODERN FICTION THROUGH THE ANALYSIS OF FIGHT CLUB AND ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO’S NEST

Abstract

Throughout the years, the literary canon has introduced many characters who have captivated the reader with their acts of heroism. One such character from the nineteenth century is the Byronic hero. Having been created during a transition period in George Gordon Byron’s literary career, the Byronic hero pattern has taken a very special place in literature, and it has influenced many other writers from different eras. This study takes special interest in how the Byronic hero is interpreted in the Postmodern era to examine the evolution of this heroic concept. Accordingly, this thesis analyses Randle McMurphy from Ken Kesey’s One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest and Tyler Durden from Chuck Palahniuk’s Fight Club as postmodern Byronic heroes and emphasizes their contributions to Byron’s heroic tradition in their own distinct ways. These characters are demonstrated as great examples for the postmodern Byronic hero depending on their leadership disposition, great diligence to defend their personal freedom against the authority figures, and rejection to be deemed as role models. Since Byron’s heroes are typically known for their refusal to comply with the authority figures, the actions of the postmodern Byronic heroes are further analyzed through the guidance of the critical theories of Michel Foucault and Friedrich Nietzsche, concerning power, knowledge, truth and self-mastery. At the end of the thesis, it is deduced that while many of the key characteristics of the Byronic hero have been preserved for years, the postmodern Byronic heroes have inevitably gone through an evolution in terms of character formation. Reflecting the significant political issues of their own times, the postmodern Byronic heroes are made to believe that they might be the savior of other people, which gradually gives them fascist tendencies. Finally, it is concluded that despite all the adverse characteristics of the Byronic hero, the reader sympathizes with him as his rebellion against delimiting authority figures provide a satisfactory experience for the reader.