Use this url to cite ETD: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12259/118866
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Metaphorical conceptualization of depression in Sylvia Plath’s journals and the novel The Bell Jar
Field of Science
Filologija / Philology (H004)
Type of publication
type::text::thesis::master thesis
Title
Metaphorical conceptualization of depression in Sylvia Plath’s journals and the novel The Bell Jar
Other Title
Metaforinė depresijos konceptualizacija Sylvia Plath žurnaluose ir novelėje The Bell Jar
Author
Bulakaitė, Akvilė |
Advisor
Extent
56 p.
Date Issued
2013-06-14
Abstract
The study aims to investigate how depression is reflected through metaphors in Sylvia Plath’s writings. The analysis was carried out within the framework of Conceptual Metaphor Theory applying Metaphor Identification Procedure (MIP). The findings indicate that there is a variety of ways in which depression is metaphorically conceptualized. For example, the feelings of sadness and emptiness are comprehended via the conceptual metaphor HUMAN BEING IS A CONTAINER (I felt very still and very empty. (Plath, 2003:3)); bad feelings and sadness are also presented as FEELING BAD IS FEELING/BECOMING SMALL, where the first person narrator, supposedly Sylvia Plath, felt herself shrinking to a small black dot, disappearing in the context of surrounding things. Moreover, depression is conceptualized as a plant (DEPRESSION IS A PLANT), which seems to be a sign of vitality, although here it appears to be a weed that must be rooted out before it completely sprang up, or in other words, did some damage. Taking Sylvia Plath’s point of view, the concepts of love and life acquire negative meaning in both discourses. The conceptual metaphors LOVE IS BAD, LOVE IS DANGER let us presume that this feeling must be avoided, otherwise it may hurt someone. Life is conceptualized as LIFE IS IMPRISONMENT and LIFE IS A RACETRACK, which make us think and question how one can escape from this imprisonment, or how one can be first in this race. The concept of death, commonly understood as dark and scary, by Sylvia Plath is pictured as DEATH IS A SHELTER/FEELING OF SECURITY.
Tyrimo tikslas yra atskleisti kaip Sylvia Plath darbuose metaforos atsispindi depresiją. Analizė atlikta remiantis konceptualiosios metaforos teorija, naudojant MIP metodą. Rezultatai rodo, kad daugelis metaforų atspindi depresiją, pvz.: tokie jausmai kaip liūdesys ir tuštuma išreiškiami per HUMAN BEING IS A CONTAINER (I felt vey still and very empty. (Plath. 2003: 3)), neigiamos emocijos ir liūdesys vaizduojami FEELING BAD IS FEELING/BECOMING SMALL — pasakotojas arba Sylvia Plath sulygina save su mažėjančiu ir besitraukiančiu objektu, tuo pačiu išreikšdama nykimo ar susiliejimo su aplinka jausmą. Taip pat depresija konceptualizuojama kaip augalas (DEPRESSION IS A PLANT), augalas dažniausiai siejamas su gyvybingumu bei teigiamumu, tačiau šiuo atveju, depresija projektuojama kaip piktžolė, kurią reikia išnaikinti, kadangi kitu atveju ji gali pakenkti. S. Plath suvokimu, tokios sąvokos kaip meilė bei gyvenimas įgauna neigiamą atspalvį konceptualiosiose metaforose. LOVE IS BAD, LOVE IS DANGER, leidžia manyti, jog meilė yra blogas ir žalingas jausmas, tad šio jausmo reikėtų vengti. Taip pat, gyvenimas konceptualizuojamas kaip LIFE IS IMPRISONMENT IR LIFE IS A RACETRACK ir tai kelia keletą klausimų: kaip galima ištrūkti iš šių varžytuvių; kaip laimėti šias varžybas? Mirties sąvoka plačiai suprantama kaip gąsdinanti ir tamsi, tačiau Sylvia Plath ją konceptualizuoja kaip DEATH IS A SHELTER/FEELING OF SECURITY.
Language
Anglų / English (en)
Defended
Taip / Yes
Access Rights
Prieigos embargo / Embargoed Access
File(s)akvile_bulakaite_md.pdf (516.92 KB) Embargo Accessuntil 2040-06-01