Polyphonic Narratives and Lacanian Mirror Stage in Latham and Waters' African Town (2022)

This paper undertakes the exploration of Irene Latham and Charles Waters’ African Town, commencing with a narrative synopsis followed by the contextualization of its historical milieu. It subsequently engages with the text through the intricate theoretical frameworks of Mikhail Bakhtin’s polyphonic theory and Jacques Lacan’s mirror stage concept, aiming to elucidate how these perspectives collectively inform the novel’s exploration of identity, collective experience, and narrative multiplicity. Bakhtin’s theory is employed to examine how various perspectives and voices in the novel intertwine to offer profound reflections on freedom, identity, and resilience. This analysis is then expanded using Lacan’s mirror stage, focusing on the psychological odyssey of James as he grapples with newfound liberty amidst historical oppression in the post-Civil War era. The integration of both concepts enables an interdisciplinary exploration, guiding readers through the philosophical labyrinth of African Town while uncovering layers of individual and collective identity amidst societal adversity.