| Summary: | 碩士 === 國立彰化師範大學 === 英語學系 === 97 === Abstract
The thesis interprets Thomas Middleton’s and Thomas Dekker’s The Roaring Girl and Ben Jonson’s Epicene by applying Lacanian hysteric’s discourse. I intend to explore how cross-dressed characters achieve intended deceptions by using the power of cross-dressing. In fact, the issue of cross-dressing in the early modern England has been a disputable topic. In the chapter one, I analyze the practice of cross-dressing in the light of different interpretations and then obtain that cross-dressing serves as a violation of the established values. Taking this as a starting point, I try to explore how cross-dressed characters influence the result by using their discourses.
Chapter Two introduces the theoretical framework of the thesis. Lacan’s concept of discourse is structured by four elements. The upper construction is composed of a speaker and a receiver, and the lower construction is comprised by the product based on the receiver’s understanding and the truth derived from the speaker’s intention. The product and the truth cannot correspond to each other, which leads to ceaseless mistaken ideas in Lacan’s discourse. The concept of barred subject, master signifier, knowledge, and objet a are explicated in this chapter. The idea of objet a in Lacan’s theory of discourses develops from the lost desire into surplus value similar to the product in Marx’s hierarchy.
Chapter Three and Chapter Four draws on the hysteric’s perspective to respectively analyze how cross-dressed characters generate misunderstanding and achieve deceits. Chapter Three discusses that Moll’s and Sir Alexander’s misunderstanding ideas help Sebastian regain his old lover. The fourth chapter explores that a silent woman Epicene cheats Morose for assisting to Dauphine to get his inheritance.
There are two parts in the conclusion: Firstly, I argue that The Roaring Girl and Epicene can be interpreted in terms of Lacanian hysteric’s discourse. From the hysteric’s viewpoint, I discover that the power of cross-dressing is not completely antisocial or negative because it partakes of assisting forces, which may generate contributions to others. Secondly, I briefly introduce another interpretation to see The Roaring Girl and Epicene by applying the master’s discourse as a suggestion for further study.
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