The observing We in literary representations of neglect and social alienation: types of narrator involvement in Janice Galloway's 'Scenes from the Life No. 26: The Community and the Senior Citizen' and Jon McGregor's 'Even the Dogs'

Emmott, C. (2018) The observing We in literary representations of neglect and social alienation: types of narrator involvement in Janice Galloway's 'Scenes from the Life No. 26: The Community and the Senior Citizen' and Jon McGregor's 'Even the Dogs'. In: Gibbons, A. and Macrae, A. (eds.) Pronouns in Literature: Positions and Perspectives in Language. Palgrave McaMillan: London, pp. 151-169. ISBN 9781349953165 (doi: 10.1057/978-1-349-95317-2_9)

Abstract

This chapter examines the use of different types of we-narration in two literary stories that portray the theme of neglect and alienation in modern society, Janice Galloway’s ‘Scenes from the life no. 26: The community and the senior citizen’ and Jon McGregor’s Even the Dogs. Both texts have an observing we-narrator. Galloway’s short story presents a voyeuristic commentator, apparently watching a staged performance. This we becomes increasingly detached as the narrative progresses, possibly preventing readers from fully empathising. By contrast, McGregor’s we-narrator is highly involved, contributing personal knowledge and memories. The degree of involvement of these we-narrators is quite different, but both texts use their unusual perspectives to provide unsettling views of those who have fallen into a state of neglect and are marginalised by society.

• Item Type: Book Sections
• Keywords: Janice Galloway, Jon McGregor, neglect, voyeurism, age, we-narration.
• Status: Published
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Emmott, Dr Catherine
• Authors: Emmott, C.
• College/School: College of Arts & Humanities > School of Critical Studies > English Language and Linguistics
• Publisher: Palgrave McaMillan
• ISBN: 9781349953165
• Published Online: 05 January 2018