https://doi.org/10.67147/literariness.v1i2.038
Fraught with Fear: A Cultural Inquiry into Midlife Crisis, Life Course Pessimism, and Identity in Justine Triet’s Anatomy of a Fall (2023)
HARISHMA A GIREESH
Research Scholar
Humanities and Social Science Department
National Institute of Technology, Warangal
DR. B. SPOORTHI
Assistant Professor
Humanities and Social Science Department
National Institute of Technology, Warangal
Abstract: Life course pessimism and age anxiety are considered pertinent matters for an age cohort that was previously categorized as older adults; however, the proliferation of such pessimism has now become rampant, extending to an age cohort that is considerably younger than fifty. The objective of this paper is to analyse the cultural representation of the midlife crisis in Justine Triet’s Anatomy of a Fall (2023) through an examination of Samuel Maleski’s character and the ways in which his traits shape his identity. The study aims to explore the mechanisms and underlying reasons through which the transition into midlife triggers age-related anxiety and pessimism regarding the life course. The researcher draws on one of the central frameworks in age studies proposed by Margaret Morganroth Gullette, examining whether the protagonist’s midlife crisis is shaped by factors associated with “perilous parenting” (Gullette, 2004). In addition, the study incorporates David Gutmann’s (1971) framework of ego mastery to explore the psychological dimensions of the character’s struggle in adapting to the developmental shifts associated with midlife.
Keywords: Midlife Crisis, Life Course Pessimism, Gullette, Age Anxiety
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