Posthuman Subjectivity in Don DeLillo’s The Silence

This paper aims to explore the influence of technology on the inner side of humans, focusing on abnormal behaviors shown by the three male characters, Max Stenner, Jim Kripps, and Martin Dekker, show during a sudden digital shutdown. For this purpose, we worked with the “posthuman subjectivity” model of N. Katherine Hayles and Rosi Braidotti, complementing it with the concepts of M. M. Bakhtin who argues that we establish ourselves, talking with and thinking others. According to these frameworks, Max, Jim and Martin were not characters who expanded their inner worlds with technology. The most severe case is Max, a professional gambler for whom TV is such an integral part of his world. Next, Jim, as “a tall white android,” is also a man who belongs to the group of “digital addicts,” as is evident when he focuses only on the small on-board screen of the plane he is on. Finally, Martin can be categorized as a digital addict due to his endless talking about science and philosophy, like some kind of automatic doll. These characteristics alienate Diane Lucas, a former physics professor, and Tessa, a poet. Don DeLillo’s point is that the inability to communicate will be overcome only through the multi-scalar relationality. At the level of narratology, The Silence opens the possibility that the novel as a literary genre will be expanded to the posthuman world. (Chosun University)