Colm Tóibín’s "The Empty Family" and Yiyun Li's "Kindness" The Tyranny of Time: A Study of the Problem of Aging

Mukadder Erkan

Makale detayları

Colm Tóibín’s "The Empty Family" and Yiyun Li's "Kindness" The Tyranny of Time: A Study of the Problem of Aging

Yazarlar:

Mukadder Erkan

Yayıncı:

Ataturk University

Ana Başlıklar:

İngiliz ve İrlanda Dili | Edebiyatı ve Kültürü

Dergi:

Melius: Journal of Narrative and Language Studies Issue 4, pp.26-33

Belge Tipi:

Makale

Yayın Tarihi:

9/2025

Belge Dili:

İngilizce

Document ID (Org No.):

2001359073

pISSN:

2980-3462

Anahtar kelimeler:

Özet:

 This paper examines the representation of ageing in Colm Tóibíns The Empty Family and Yiyun Lis Kindness, highlighting the novels exploration of both the physical and psychological consequences of ageing as an existential reality. Through a close reading of the novels reflections on the protagonists views on ageing, it is concluded that ageing is not simply a medical and biological condition but a complex interaction involving individual background, social frameworks, and cultural narratives. Drawing on gerontological literary criticism and Andrew Blaikies sociological framework, the paper argues that the selected novels portray ageing not only as a decline in physical health but also within broader social and historical contexts that influence available narratives and ways of assigning meaning. By framing the narratives within the broader literary tradition of ageing, the analysis highlights the novels role in shaping cultural perceptions of old age and mortality.

 This paper examines the representation of ageing in Colm Tóibíns The Empty Family and Yiyun Lis Kindness, highlighting the novels exploration of both the physical and psychological consequences of ageing as an existential reality. Through a close reading of the novels reflections on the protagonists views on ageing, it is concluded that ageing is not simply a medical and biological condition but a complex interaction involving individual background, social frameworks, and cultural narratives. Drawing on gerontological literary criticism and Andrew Blaikies sociological framework, the paper argues that the selected novels portray ageing not only as a decline in physical health but also within broader social and historical contexts that influence available narratives and ways of assigning meaning. By framing the narratives within the broader literary tradition of ageing, the analysis highlights the novels role in shaping cultural perceptions of old age and mortality.

 This paper examines the representation of ageing in Colm Tóibíns The Empty Family and Yiyun Lis Kindness, highlighting the novels exploration of both the physical and psychological consequences of ageing as an existential reality. Through a close reading of the novels reflections on the protagonists views on ageing, it is concluded that ageing is not simply a medical and biological condition but a complex interaction involving individual background, social frameworks, and cultural narratives. Drawing on gerontological literary criticism and Andrew Blaikies sociological framework, the paper argues that the selected novels portray ageing not only as a decline in physical health but also within broader social and historical contexts that influence available narratives and ways of assigning meaning. By framing the narratives within the broader literary tradition of ageing, the analysis highlights the novels role in shaping cultural perceptions of old age and mortality.

 Bu makale, Colm Tóibínin The Empty Family ve Yiyun Linin Kindness adlı eserlerinde yaşlanmanın temsilini inceleyerek romanların yaşlanmanın hem fiziksel hem de psikolojik sonuçlarını varoluşsal bir gerçeklik olarak ele alışını vurgulamaktadır. Romanların, başkahramanların yaşlanmaya dair görüşleri üzerine düşüncelerinin yakından okunmasıyla, yaşlanmanın yalnızca tıbbi ve biyolojik bir durum değil, bireysel geçmiş, toplumsal çerçeveler ve kültürel anlatıları içeren karmaşık bir etkileşim olduğu sonucuna varılmaktadır. Gerontolojik edebiyat eleştirisi ve Andrew Blaikienin sosyolojik çerçevesinden yararlanan çalışma, seçilen romanların yaşlanmayı yalnızca fiziksel sağlıkta bir düşüş olarak değil, aynı zamanda mevcut anlatıları ve anlamlandırma biçimlerini etkileyen daha geniş toplumsal ve tarihsel bağlamlar içinde de tasvir ettiğini savunmaktadır. Anlatıları daha geniş bir edebi yaşlanma geleneği çerçevesinde konumlandıran analiz, romanların yaşlılık ve ölümlülüğe dair kültürel algıları şekillendirmedeki rolünü vurgulamaktadır.

Makale detayları

Colm Tóibín’s "The Empty Family" and Yiyun Li's "Kindness" The Tyranny of Time: A Study of the Problem of Aging

Yazarlar:

Mukadder Erkan

Yayıncı:

Ataturk University

Ana Başlıklar:

İngiliz ve İrlanda Dili | Edebiyatı ve Kültürü

Dergi:

Melius: Journal of Narrative and Language Studies Issue 4, pp.26-33

Belge Tipi:

Makale

Yayın Tarihi:

9/2025

Belge Dili:

İngilizce

Document ID (Org No.):

2001359073

pISSN:

2980-3462

Colm Tóibín

The Empty Family

Yiyun Li

Kindness

AgingColm Tóibín

The Empty Family

Yiyun Li

Kindness

Yaşlanma

Sayı

Makale detayları

Yazarlar: Mukadder Erkan

Yayıncı: Ataturk University

Ana Başlıklar: İngiliz ve İrlanda Dili | Edebiyatı ve Kültürü

Dergi: Melius: Journal of Narrative and Language Studies Issue 4, pp.26-33

Belge Tipi: Makale

Yayın Tarihi: 9/2025

Belge Dili: İngilizce

Document ID (Org No.): 2001359073

pISSN: 2980-3462

Sayı

Yazarlar:

Mukadder Erkan

Yayıncı:

Ataturk University

Ana Başlıklar:

İngiliz ve İrlanda Dili | Edebiyatı ve Kültürü

Dergi:

Melius: Journal of Narrative and Language Studies Issue 4, pp.26-33

Belge Tipi:

Makale

Yayın Tarihi:

9/2025

Belge Dili:

İngilizce

Document ID (Org No.):

2001359073

pISSN:

2980-3462