Loss of Self: A Posthumanist Reading of Dave Eggers's The Circle

Posthumanism is an approach that seeks to analyse the influence of science and technology on human beings. Dave Eggers's The Circle (2013) serves as a cautionary narrative, warning against the potentially harmful effects of advanced technologies on humanity. Accordingly, the present study aims to examine the impact of digital technology on identity, selfhood, and social relationships. This research employs posthumanism as its primary theoretical framework. The analysis of The Circle suggests that humanity has already transitioned into the posthuman condition and does not need to wait for the future to realise it. The central character, Maebelline Renner Holland, may be regarded as a posthuman subject, as she embodies a cyborgian fusion of digital identity and lived reality. The findings illuminate the detrimental impact of emerging technologies on individuals and society as a whole, while also underscoring the importance of recognising their far-reaching implications.