1.2.1. Research Questions

1.3. Literature Review

1.4. Thesis Outline

1.5. Methodology and Approach

1.6. Motivation and Delimitation

1.7. Definition of Key Terms

Chapter 2: The Postmodern Theory of Jean-François Lyotard

2.1. Jean-François Lyotard

2.2. The Postmodernist Movement

2.3. Early Marxist Activities

2.4. The Pragmatics of Knowledge

2.5. Modern Criteria of Legitimation

2.6. Postmodern Criteria of Legitimation

2.7. The development of Capitalist System

2.8. The Semiotics and the Linguistic Based Culture

2.9. The Postmodern Self (Social Subject)

2.10. The Complementary Approaches of Baudrillard and Foucault

Chapter 3: Language Games

3.1. Studying Capitalism, Power, Language Game and Reality in “Thanasphere”

3.1.1 Synopsis

3.1.2 Commentary

3.2. Studying Capitalism, Reality, Language Game and Power in “Souvenir”

3.2.1 Synopsis

3.2.2 Commentary

3.3. Studying Language Game, Power, Capitalism and Alienation in “The Cruise

of the Jolly Roger”

3.3.1 Synopsis

3.3.2 Commentary

3.4. Studying Capitalism, Disciplinary Power, Language Game and Reality in

“2BR02B”

3.4.1 Synopsis

3.4.2 Commentary

Chapter 4: Grand Narratives

4.1. Studying Grand Narrative, Capitalism and Social Class in “The Package”

4.1.1 Synopsis

4.1.2 Commentary

4.2. Studying Grand Narrative, Capitalism and Performativity in “Poor Little Rich

Town”

4.2.1. Synopsis

4.2.2. Commentary

4.3. Studying Grand Narrative, Capitalism and Commodity in “Custom-Made

Bride”

4.3.1. Synopsis

4.3.2. Commentary

Chapter 5: Conclusion

5.1. Summary

5.2. Findings

5.3. Suggestions for Further Research

Works Cited

Chapter One

Introduction

1.1. General Background

Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. (1922-2007) is renowned as a prominent American novelist and essayist. Vonnegut was one of the celebrated writers of post-World War ΙΙ in American literature. He defined himself as an atheist, agnostic and freethinker. The significant characteristic of his writing career is that for the most part in his works he combined satiric social observation and black comedy; also, he utilized surrealist and imaginary elements.

Several of his novels included science fiction themes. Actually, Vonnegut made use of the elements of science fiction and metafiction to direct the reader’s attention to the more serious issues associated with ethics and politics. His simple writing style is deceptive since it misleads the reader from perceiving the tense and unspeakable agony of the individual’s life in the twentieth century.

As a postmodern writer, in his writing Vonnegut employs some specific features; that is, the disorder in the narrative events and disruption of time or mixing past, present and future, blending of different genres, drawing the pictures, symbols or designs in the text, vicious circles and paranoia. In his works the limerick, humorous and jokes are entangled to narrate the serious facts that are really happened in Vonnegut’s lifetime.

The crucial event in Vonnegut’s life which had a profound influence on him and consequently on his writing career could be the firebombing of Dresden, Germany, by Allied armies in 1945, a horrifying happening he witnessed personally as a young captive of war. His understanding in Dresden laid the grounds for his greatest novelSlaughterhouse-Fivepublished in 1969 as an obvious attack on the terrors of war in Vietnam, racial turmoil and cultural and social cataclysm.

Accordingly, there is linkage between Vonnegut’s life and works. War, genocide, environmental determinism, atomic bomb and technological advancement were all engendered in the postmodern epoch. He disapproved the technological science and the political economy. Common themes in Vonnegut’s works consist of the dehumanization resulted by the improvement of technology, Sexuality, fierceness, hopelessness, bewilderment, alienation, insecurity and depression.

Vonnegut was a humanist. He maintained that in the postmodern era the human being is a hapless, lonely, bewildered and desperate victim; he is robbed of his identity and integrity to transform to a totally dependent social subject. In an alien world organized by machines, the individual tries to cope with the forces beyond his control. In his novels Vonnegut compassionately praised the characters who refuse to surrender to despair and defeat.