Open AccessThe Formation of Separatism in Shelley's The Last Man
Author(s) -
Mikayla Davis
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
digital literature review
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2692-904X
DOI - 10.33043/dlr.6.0.54-62
Subject(s) - humanity , plague (disease) , dystopia , philosophy , function (biology) , environmental ethics , epistemology , psychoanalysis , sociology , aesthetics , history , literature , art , psychology , theology , ancient history , biology , evolutionary biology
In an analysis of Mary Shelley’s The Last Man, this essay focuses on the impact of the plagueon society's mentality and function. The plague, explained as a manifestation of the“primitive” and the abject—based on the concepts of Douglas and Kristeva—leads to socialseparatism, dystopia, and moral regression. Paired with analysis of language and thecharacter Adrian, the essay concludes that Shelley’s greatest warning is against theobjectifying of humanity as potential abjections.