THEORETICAL POSTULATIONS OF POWER IN NORMAN MAILER'S THE NAKED AND THE DEAD
The Naked and the Dead written in 1948 by an American writer, Norman Mailer, who was central figure in post-World War II American fiction tackles the psychological and sociopolitical issues that confound readers and critics. He combined them in a complementary way to explain how they developed in terms of cause and effect. The definition of power in comparison to megalomania, its various root causes, and its catastrophic impact on both victims and perpetrators are all discussed in this work. It also aims to expose how the modern individual rebels against the political life that permeates every aspect of American society by suffering from spiritual decadence. Mailer's significant and potent characters, such as General Cummings and Lieutenant Croft, who serve as victims while exhibiting megalomaniacal attitudes. Two other weak characters, Lieutenant Hearn and Troop Red Valsen, also suffer at the hands of the perpetrators in this novel. Mailer makes the case that a person must either submit to unjust forces or attempt to achieve spiritual independence and dignity.
Power, Psychological, Sociopolitical, Megalomaniac, Dignity