The novel Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides won the Pulitzer Price in 2002. If you endeavour to sum up the story in one sentence, you could say it is an epic tale of an hermaphrodite of Greek origin, of his genealogy and of the first forty years of his life in the USA and in Berlin, told by himself. The question is: Why did Eugenides choose the title “Middlesex” for his novel? and: How can the motive “Middlesex” be traced in the text? In trying to answer this, I used different ways of appraoch. First I strived to get some explanations from the outside, using dictionaries, the internet, and also referring to “Middlemarch” by George Eliot, because the title bears a resemblance to “Middlesex”. Next I found some interviews on the internet in which Eugenides speaks about his book. Then I turned to the novel itself. It is obvious that I looked into the chapter “Middlesex” first. Then I tried to find out whether there was any connection between the hermaphrodite status of Cal and the title. The last step I took was to analyze the relations of the four couples who make up Cal’s entourage in order to learn, if there was anything that linked them to the title. A short evaluation of the results of this quest shall be given in the conclusion of this paper.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Looking for an Explanation of the Word “Middlesex”
3. What the Author says on the Subject in Selected Interviews
4. The Chapter “Middlesex” as the Beginning of a Fundamental Change in the Narrator’s Life
5. The Narrator as an “Intermediate” Person
6. Sex as a Factor of Central Importance in the Other Protagonists’s Lives
7. Conclusion
Objectives & Topics
This paper examines the multi-layered implications of the title "Middlesex" in Jeffrey Eugenides’s novel of the same name, exploring how the term serves as a motif for the protagonist’s intersex identity, the narrative structure, and the complex interconnectedness of the various characters' lives.
- Etymological and geographical analysis of the term "Middlesex"
- Authorial intentions and the influence of classical literature
- The role of the chapter "Middlesex" as a catalyst for the protagonist's development
- The "intermediate" nature of the narrator and the transition between biological genders
- The centralizing role of sexuality in the lives of the Stephanides family and related protagonists
Excerpt from the Book
4 The Chapter “Middlesex” as the Beginning of a Fundamental Change in the Narrator’s Life
The chapter “Middlesex” is expressly placed in the middle of the book. Because of this position and in consequence of its heading it attracts the reader’s attention.
The house Middlesex (p. 291) on Middlesex Boulevard (p. 290) was built in 1909 and had intercom installed in 1940 (p. 293). With its rather eccentric appearance it is nevertheless attractive to Milton, given the fact that it is situated in Grosse Point (p. 286). Besides affording enough space for all the members of the Stephanides family it helps Milton to get into the upper middleclass. Like many other houses in the suburbs it has a big property with a bathhouse and a guesthouse (p. 289), a backyard with trees (p. 291), two courtyards, one of them with a dry pool, a portico, a greenhouse (p. 294) and a patio in the back (p. 288). What distinguishes Middlesex from other houses, however, is the fact that it is influenced by the Japanese style, the interior spaces opened up, and the “midwestern horizontal” and not the “Victorian vertical” (p. 291) prevailing.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: The introduction outlines the author's methodological approach, including dictionary research, internet sources, and a close reading of the novel's central chapters.
2. Looking for an Explanation of the Word “Middlesex”: This chapter investigates the geographical and etymological roots of "Middlesex" and discusses its symbolic resonance as an "intermediate" state regarding both anatomy and identity.
3. What the Author says on the Subject in Selected Interviews: The author’s own commentary from various interviews is analyzed to reveal his creative choices, including the inspiration drawn from Greek mythology and the desire to write from the perspective of an intersex narrator.
4. The Chapter “Middlesex” as the Beginning of a Fundamental Change in the Narrator’s Life: This section analyzes how the setting of the house "Middlesex" reflects the protagonist’s transition and why the location serves as a critical turning point in the narrator's upbringing.
5. The Narrator as an “Intermediate” Person: The author explores the biological and psychological condition of Calliope/Cal, focusing on the development of his/her gender identity during puberty.
6. Sex as a Factor of Central Importance in the Other Protagonists’s Lives: This chapter examines how sexual attraction and specific sexual dynamics define the lives and fates of the various other characters within the novel.
7. Conclusion: The conclusion synthesizes the findings, confirming that "Middlesex" serves as a complex metaphor for ambiguity and the intersection of genetics and environment.
Keywords
Jeffrey Eugenides, Middlesex, Hermaphrodite, Intersex, Gender Identity, Narrative Structure, Genetic Mutation, Greek Mythology, Middlemarch, George Eliot, Sexual Ambiguity, Coming-of-age, Literature, Cultural Identity, Novelistic Genome
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research paper?
The paper focuses on the diverse meanings and implications behind the title "Middlesex" in Jeffrey Eugenides’s novel, specifically how the term mirrors the protagonist's intersex condition and the novel's thematic architecture.
Which key thematic areas are analyzed in the work?
The analysis covers the etymological roots of the title, the author’s creative intentions, the symbolism of the house named "Middlesex," and the influence of sexual dynamics on the broader ensemble of characters.
What is the primary objective of the study?
The objective is to decode the "middlesex-motive" and demonstrate how Eugenides embeds this theme into the identity of the protagonist and the structural composition of the book.
Which scientific or analytical methods were employed?
The research utilizes literary analysis, investigation of the author’s interviews, dictionary-based etymological study, and comparison with classic literature like George Eliot’s "Middlemarch."
What topics are discussed in the main body?
The main body treats the biological development of the narrator (Cal), the significance of the house as a physical space, and the detailed relationships between the supporting characters in the Stephanides family.
Which keywords characterize this work?
Central keywords include Hermaphrodite, Intersex, Gender Identity, Middlesex, Novelistic Genome, and Eugenides.
How does the author connect the protagonist's hermaphroditism to the novel’s structure?
The author argues that the hermaphroditic condition is not just a character trait but a structural principle, influencing how the book handles time, narrative voice, and themes of division and reunification.
Why is the comparison between "Middlesex" and "Middlemarch" significant?
The comparison highlights Eugenides's awareness of the 19th-century realistic tradition and illustrates how he uses similar narrative devices, such as an omniscient voice, to manage complex multi-generational stories.
- Quote paper
- Kathrin Ehlen (Author), 2005, The Different Implications of the Name “Middlesex“ in the Novel of the Same Name by Jeffrey Eugenides , Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/173797
