‘The Authority of the Written Word’ : ecriture et transgressions dans The Cider House Rules, A Prayer for Owen Meany et A Widow for One Year de John Irving.

摘要

Written by contemporary American author John Irving, The Cider House Rules, A Prayer for Owen Meany and A Widow for One Year propose three different fictional worlds, shaped by a common question concerning the process of creation, both of the individual and of the literary work. In the relations between individuals and their environment represented in the narratives, transgression figures as an act of rebellion and as a vital step in the creation of identity. At the diegetic level, a tension between respect for and departure from fictional norms and conventions characterizes narrative voice and techniques. The association of antagonistic forces gives rise to singular novels that combine tradition and modernity, as well as seriousness and humor. Finally, Irving’s novels are shaped by a common aim: to entertain and to protest at the same time.