تحلیل رمان پرفروش شبح از سوزان کی بر اساس نظریه داغ ننگ اروینگ گافمن

Introduction

The “Theory of Stigma” (notes on the management of spoiled identity) of Irving Goffman

Goffman is one of the celebrated sociologists of 20^thcentury America. The theory of stigma has a Greek root (Qaem Zadeh, 1393: 150). Stigma means disgrace; it is a sign of reproachment or condemnation on a person or thing (Rouse, 2002:3).The stigma theory is a kind of a theory in society to categorize people.  This very system of categorizing people causes a particular characteristic of a person to be identified as stigmatic features.  As per the classification of Goffman, we face three kinds of stigma- First category is related to ugliness or physical deformities, second feature is characterized by defectiveness and deficiencies related to a person. Third type of such stigma is the stigma of race and tribe by which stigmas related to community, nationality and religion are meant the (Goffman, 1386:33).

The Phantom of Opera

The Phantom of Opera is a novel by French writer Gaston Leroux. This story was first published from the beginning of 23^rd September 1909 to 8^th January,1910 as a part of a series in the Le Gaulois newspaper and thereafter it was published in a book form. The book attracted meager sale in the beginning and even till the 20^th century there was no reprint edition of the same. However, when the story was adapted into theatre and cinema it became a popular novel (Haining, 1988:27). There have been various narrations of the Phantom of Opera but it seems that the one belonging to Susan Kay is the best by far. 

Susan Kay (b.1953 A.D) is a British novelist who used to teach in a school in the beginning. He wrote his first novel on Queen Elizabeth for which he was even awarded in the year 1985. Susan Kay has studied and undertaken research in the field of history and literature and presently he is popular as a biographer.

The novel the Phantom of Opera of Paris was published in Iran in 1277 A.S. by Maleeha Mohammadi from Nashr-i Chashmeh (Chashmeh Publications). This novel has been published eight times till date.

Methodology

Present paper seeks to analyze and evaluate the Phantom of Opera from Goffman’s perspective through descriptive-analytical method.

Discussion and Results

The central character of the novel “Phantom of Opera” is “Eric” who is a genius person but has a stigma on his face by birth. He loves a woman opera singer and for this very purpose he blackmails Garnier opera so that his motive of advancement towards his beloved opera singer could be accomplished. Eric remains aloof from the society due to his abnormal face. He always hides his face behind a veil. Nonetheless, he has wonderful ability in architecture and music and is considered a genius in this field. However, his whole life is under the influence of his face which he hides behind a veil on the insistence of his mother.

The important point of the book is that it has many narratives and narrates the life of Eric from the tongues of those with whom Eric spent a particular period of his life. Eric even visits Iran to perform architectural work of the palaces of the Qajar kings and spends a particular period of his time in Iran. The interesting thing is that one of the narrators is an Iranian named Nadir who is an inspector in the Qajar court.

Eric, the main character of the Phantom of Opera is a skilled person who is born with physical deformities and therefore is rejected by the society. His capabilities are overlooked making him a dreaded soul who avoids the company of human beings. The most important stigma in the novel “The Phantom of the Opera of Paris” comprises of the feeling of repulsion, rejection, fighting against the customs, social dissent in Eric’s belief which most often have psychological and cultural themes. The stigma of the dreadful feeling of fate followed by the provocation for revenge motivates Eric more than anything.

Conclusion

On the basis of the above discussions, it is evident that of all the stigmas in the novel “The Phantom of Opera of Paris”, the stigma of physical disability is the most prominent of them all. The origin of all the stigmas of Eric, the chief protagonist of the novel, begins right from his birth. Whosoever looks at his face, sans nose and hollow eyes which look like scalp dried for long, gets scared and Eric is compelled to put on a mask on his face for life. Due to his ugliness people commit violence against him. People consider him a monster and beat him up. Eric chooses a house for himself in the abyss of the Opera of Paris to avoid the curse of the people. He remains hidden from the sight of the people till his last breathe. He even makes will to bury him at a place far from the sight of people.

The problems of psychological illnesses like inferiority complex etc. are discernible in the novel “The Phantom of Opera of Paris”. This is the reason why the first kind of stigmas (the evil stigmas) find their way in the novel.

According to the research findings, Eric is pained by unbelievable stigma of social identity which runs through his action and relation in the course of the novel.  Similarly, social restlessness, psychological aloofness and the actions like the effort to kill Eric due to physical deformity also overshadow Stigma and the distant role that existed in his identity in the society.

Keywords

Susan Key, The Phantom of the Opera of Paris, Erving Goffman, Stigma Theory, identity

References

Ghasemzadeh, A. (2014). “Behavior Sociology in the Novel of “ Tanabkeshi” Based on the Theory of Scarlet Letter, Literary Criticism, 7, (26), 147-169.

Haining, Peter (1988). "Introduction", The Phantom of the Opera. New York: Dorset Press.

Goffman, E. (2012). The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life (M. Kianpour, Trans.). Tehran: Markaz Publication.

Kay, S. (2019). Phantom (M. Mohamadi, Trans.). Tehran: Cheshme Publication.

Rouse, Matthew H.(2002).Christ & Stigma. Biola University. Faculty Integration Seminar. Summer.