Maladies of the Will: The American Novel and the Modernity Problem

Maladies of the Will is an examination of the nineteenth-century American novel that argues for a new genealogy of the concept of the will. It shows how the novels attention to the wills maladies enables an ongoing interrogation of modern premises from within, and how it alternately aligns itself with and pits itself against a bigger Will.

Format: Hardback
Length: 504 pages
Publication date: 16 December 2022
Publisher: The University of Chicago Press

The concept of the will has been reexamined in the context of nineteenth-century American literature, challenging the traditional understanding of the human subject. In Western modernity, the autonomous individual is seen as the foundation of society, striving for self-determination. However, novelists have portrayed the will as prone to various maladies, ranging from indecision to obsession, wild impulse to melancholic inertia. Jennifer Fleissner's ambitious book, Maladies of the Will, explores how these maladies enable an ongoing interrogation of modern premises from within.

Maladies of the Will reveals the nineteenth-century American novels' engagement with a broad philosophical tradition that remains highly relevant to our contemporary times. This tradition encompasses works such as Moby-Dick, The Scarlet Letter, Elizabeth Stoddard's The Morgesons, and Charles W. Chesnutts's The Marrow of Tradition. Through these novels, the grandeur and perversity of the will emerge as it oscillates between aligning itself with and pitting itself against larger wills, including those of God, the state, society, history, or life itself.

In the present era, where invocations of autonomy coexist with the medicalization of many behaviors, and the notion of popular will faces questioning, Maladies of the Will offers a valuable map to understand how we arrived at this juncture and how we can reexamine these critical dilemmas. By delving into the maladies of the will, the book provides insights into the complex interplay between individual agency, societal norms, and larger forces that shape our lives. It encourages readers to think critically about the role of the will in shaping our identities, relationships, and societies, and to consider alternative perspectives on human nature and the pursuit of happiness.

In conclusion, Maladies of the Will is a groundbreaking work that offers a fresh perspective on the nineteenth-century American novel and its relationship to the concept of the will. Through its exploration of the maladies of the will, the book challenges traditional notions of human subjectivity and agency and provides a valuable tool for understanding the complexities of modern life. It is a must-read for anyone interested in literature, philosophy, and the human condition.

Weight: 904g
Dimension: 160 x 237 x 38 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780226822013