Der Mythos Mann in ausgewaehlten Prosawerken von Elfriede Jelinek (Austria, German text)

The power of language and the ambiguity of linguistic symbols are predominant topics in modern Austrian literature, and the works of Elfriede Jelinek are no exception. Thus it seems surprising that secondary literature on Jelinek focuses mainly on the content of her texts rather than on her use of language. This thesis demonstrates that Jelinek is particularly interested not so much in what things mean but in “how” things mean. An analysis of Jelinek's use of language reveals that all her characters, both men and women, are nothing but stereotypical products of society, each one's identity indistinguishable from its respective social role.; Fundamental for Jelinek's writing is Roland Barthes' book Mythologies . This thesis therefore uses Barthes' theories on “Myths” for its methodical approach towards Jelinek's literature. Barthes presents a study of the ways in which mass culture constructs a mythological reality and encourages conformity to its own values. The role of the mythologist, as Barthes sees it, is to expose these Myths as the artificial constructs that they are in order to reveal their workings and show that what appears to be natural is, in fact, socially constructed and determined by history.; As secondary literature has generally failed to acknowledge the importance of her male stereotypes, this thesis focuses on Jelinek's male figures and their function in the patriarchal society. Jelinek agrees with modern gender-studies in perceiving sexual differences between men and women as social constructs rather than biological distinctions. This thesis shows how Jelinek presents male stereotypes as personifications of various sociological and cultural symptoms. In her portrait of men the traditional role of the patriarchal father figure is questioned as much as that of the rebellious son. Discourses like literature, music, philosophy, history, sports and politics are depicted through a variety of male characters and are exposed as ideological stereotypes created by a patriarchal system to ensure the political status quo. In presenting a wide range of Jelinek's male role models, the intention of masculine behavioral patterns set by social institutions and by channels of mass communication are investigated. Jelinek's male figures represent economic, social and political conditions rather than psychological case studies. She sees the roots of male myths or any other cultural myths in the way they are represented through language.; In conclusion this thesis demonstrates how Jelinek presents language as a predetermined communications device, defined entirely by a patriarchal, capitalistic society whose members have no choice but to use it to exchange messages. Thus language becomes, in a political context, the determinant of society's behavioral patterns. As an author, Jelinek ironically finds herself dependent on language to communicate her ideas, and consequently rejects a realistic literary reproduction of modern society to avoid reinforcing rather than challenging the status quo. Through analyzing the ambiguity of linguistic signs by looking at the way in which Jelinek represents her male characters, this thesis reveals the function of myth and therefore lays the basis for understanding the structure of social and cultural life and the power of language.