Masculinity Rhizomes as Deconstructed in Tobias Wolff’s “Hunters in the Snow”: A Psycho-sociological Study

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Assistant Professor of American Studies, Department of English Language and Linguistics, Razi University, Kermanshah, Iran (Corresponding Author)

2 Lecturer and PhD student of English Language and Literature, Department of English Language and Linguistics, Razi University, Kermanshah, Iran

Abstract

The issue of masculinity has always proved radically challenging. In Tobias Wolff’s “Hunters in the Snow” (1981), each character, constantly exercising their masculinity, attempts to gain the upper hand over his peers. As the story unfolds, the volatility of this concept causes each character’s masculinity to undergo minor to major transformations. In this state of flux, the current research analyzes Wolff’s short story via the lens of Connell’s model of gender and Gilles Deleuze and Félix Guattari’s schizoanalysis to trace the manifestations of different masculinity types and study their transformations respectively. Raewyn Connell’s three-fold model of gender is based on power, production relations, and cathexis, thus the present research initially studies each masculinity type in the world of Wolff’s three male characters as a certain rhizomatic zone in society and, then, how they are swapped in a process of deterritorialization to establish new ones (reterritorialization). At the opening of the story, each one of Wolff’s characters (Kenny, Frank, and Tub) represents a certain type of masculinity; while Kenny exercises dominance by bullying others (hegemonic), Frank serves as his accomplice in taking advantage of Tub (complicit and marginalized respectively). However, as the story reveals, these long-held rhizomes are de/reterritorialized in a moment of role reversal, leading to a tragic ending. The findings indicate that the two extreme ends of the masculinity hierarchy can be equally harmful to society as the experience of abuse adversely affects both the abuser (hegemonic and complicit) and the abused (marginalized), leading to corruption and devastation.

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References

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History

  • Receive Date: 13 June 2024
  • Revise Date: 31 August 2024
  • Accept Date: 30 December 2024

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