Language Transformation and Subjectivity: A Lacanian Psychological Literary Criticism of Daniel Keyes’ Flowers for Algernon
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17507/tpls.1611.16Keywords:
narrative subjectivity, linguistic transformation, Lacanian psychoanalysis, first-person narrative, Flowers for AlgernonAbstract
This study examines subjectivity construction, stabilization, and disintegration in Daniel Keyes’ Flowers for Algernon, highlighting language as the main narrative mechanism for producing subjectivity. Using narratological, stylistic, and Lacanian psychoanalytic frameworks, the analysis views subjectivity not as a stable psychological essence but as a fragile, language-dependent formation via narrative discourse. Through qualitative close reading, the study analyzes Charlie Gordon’s first-person progress reports, focusing on linguistic markers of subjectivity, including spelling patterns, syntactic complexity, vocabulary range, narrative coherence, and self-referential expressions. The findings show early non-standard linguistic forms place Charlie at symbolic discourse margins, while subsequent linguistic stabilization allows reflective self-positioning and symbolic integration. However, this stability is temporary, as linguistic deterioration leads to narrative fragmentation and self-referential authority disintegration. A Lacanian reading of the Imaginary and Symbolic orders shows narrative coherence moments correspond to imaginary identification, while symbolic regulation introduces abstraction and alienation, and its breakdown results in narrative subjectivity disintegration. The study argues Flowers for Algernon constructs subjectivity as a precarious narrative achievement sustained through language, not an inherent psychological constant, offering a language-centered perspective to literary discussions of identity, narrative voice, and subject formation.
References
Arafah, B. (2018). Incorporating the Use of Literature as an Innovative Technique for Teaching English. International Journal of Humanities and Innovation, 1(1), 1–7.
Arafah, B., & Hasyim, M. (2019). Funciones lingüísticas de emoji en la comunicación en redes sociales [Linguistic functions of emoji in social media communication]. Opción, 35(24), 558–574.
Arafah, B., & Hasyim, M. (2023a). Digital Literacy: The Right Solution to Overcome the Various Problem of Meaning and Communication on Social Media. Studies in Media and Communications, 11(4), 19-30.
Arafah, B., & Hasyim, M. (2023b). Digital Literacy on Current Issues in Social Media: Social Media As a Source of Information. Journal of Theoretical and Applied Information Technology, 101(10), 3943–3951.
Arafah, B., Hasyim, M., Aman, R. bin, Agussalim, A., & Latief, M. R. A. (2026). Language as a Gateway to Authentic Tourism: Leveraging Bugis-Makassar Expressions in South Sulawesi’s Tourism Industry. Theory and Practice in Language Studies, 16(2), 597–604.
Arafah, B., Hasyim, M., Arafah, A. N. B., Taqdir, Nursidah, Ruslin, & Arafah, F. R. B. (2025). Local Wisdom and Leadership Values in Bugis Governance: Insights Into Indigenous Political Ethics in South Sulawesi. Scientific Culture, 11(3.2), 224–234.
Arafah, B., Hasyim, M., Khaerana, A. S. A., Soraya, A. I., Ramadhani, R., Ismail, A., & Takwa. (2023c). The Digital Culture Literacy of Generation Z Netizens as Readers, Producers and Publishers of Text on Social Media. International Journal of Intelligent Systems and Applications in Engineering, 11(3), 112–123.
Arafah, B., Rofikah, U., Kaharuddin, A., Room, F., Takwa, & Purwarno, P. (2023d). Evaluating the suitability of printed materials in the context of online learning. XLinguae, 16(2), 16–32.
Arafah, B., Room, F., Suryadi, R., La Ode, M. I. H. B., Juniardi, Y., & Takwa. (2024). Character Education Values in Pullman’s The Golden Compass. Journal of Language Teaching and Research, 15(1), 246–254.
Arafah, B., Sirajuddin, J., Thayyib, M., Room, F., Takwa, & Anayati, W. (2023e). Emotional management of Defoe’s Robinson Crusoe’s main character. Journal of Language Teaching and Research, 14(5), 1414–1421.
Arafah, B., Abbas, H., Hasyim, M., Latief, M. R. A., & Taqdir. (2026). The Impact of Cultural Nuances in the Translation of Indonesian Government Social Media Content on the Digital Literacy of Young Generations. Journal of Language Teaching and Research, 17(3), 1057-1069.
Arnawa, I. G. N. E. V., & Arafah, B. (2023). Students’ Self-Regulated Strategies in Approaching Second Language Writing. Theory and Practice in Language Studies, 13(3), 690–696.
Asri, D., Arafah, B., Sahib, H., & Abbas, H. (2023). Male Domination in Helen Garner’s Monkey Grip. Theory and Practice in Language Studies, 13(7), 1651–1658.
Baa, S., Wardani, S. B., Iskandar, Weda, S., & Arafah, B. (2023). Lexical metaphors in Westlife’s selected song lyrics. XLinguae, 16(1), 132–154.
Banfield, A. (1982). Unspeakable sentences: Narration and representation in the language of fiction. Routledge.
Barry, P. (2017). Beginning theory: An introduction to literary and cultural theory (4th ed.). Manchester University Press.
Bennett, A., & Royle, N. (2016). An introduction to literature, criticism and theory. Routledge.
Çelikel, M. A. (2020). Mental health and being smart in Daniel Keyes’ Flowers for Algernon. The Literacy Trek, 6(2), 81–90.
Culler, J. (1997). Literary Theory: A Very Short Introduction. Oxford University Press.
Effendy, C., Kurniawan, S., Arafah, B., & Hidayat, S. (2025). Ghosts in Pontianak Malay Beliefs: Origins, Teachings, and Evolving Functions. Scientific Culture, 11(3.1), 1476–1492.
Evans, D. (1996). An introductory dictionary of Lacanian psychoanalysis. Routledge.
Felski, R. (2015). The limits of critique. University of Chicago Press.
Fludernik, M. (1996). Towards a 'Natural' Narratology (1st ed.). Routledge.
Hasjim, M., Arimi, S., Kushartanti, B., Arafah, B., & Taqdir. (2026). Language Transformation in Social Media and Its Impact on the Linguistic Identity of Indonesian Youth. Journal of Language Teaching and Research, 17(1), 296–305.
Hasyim, M., & Arafah, B. (2023). Social Media Text Meaning: Cultural Information Consumption. WSEAS Transactions on Information Science and Applications, 20, 220–227.
Herman, D. (2002). Story logic: Problems and possibilities of narrative. University of Nebraska Press.
Idhan, M., Jabir, M., Ruslin, R., Asmawi, M. N., Arafah, B., Ubadah, Ubay, & Fatima. (2026). Teachers’ Experiences With Mobile Apps for Arabic Language Learning: Insights From Islamic Schools in Palu, Indonesia. Journal of Language Teaching and Research, 17(1), 338–350.
Iksora, Arafah, B., Syafruddin, S., Muchtar, J., & Lestari, P. A. (2022). Typos’ Effects on Web-Based Programming Code Output: A Computational Linguistics Study. Theory and Practice in Language Studies, 12(11), 2460–2469.
Jamiluddin, Suparti, Arafah, B., & Marhum, M. (2026). Language, Power, and Symbolic Violence in Classroom Communication: Insights From Indonesian Culture. Journal of Language Teaching and Research, 17(2), 735–746.
Johnson, L. (2013). Literary subjectivity: A Lacanian approach to authority and Postcards from desolation – twelve stories [Unpublished doctoral dissertation]. University of Technology Sydney.
Kaharuddin, Ahmad, D., Mardiana, Latif, I., Arafah, B., & Suryadi, R. (2024). Defining the Role of Artificial Intelligence in Improving English Writing Skills Among Indonesian Students. Journal of Language Teaching and Research, 15(2), 568–578.
Kaharuddin, Arafah, B., Nurpahmi, S., Sukmawaty, S., Rahman, I. F., & Juniardi, Y. (2023). Exploring How Reading Aloud and Vocabulary Enrichment Shape English Speaking Skills Among Indonesian Learners of English. World Journal of English Language, 13(8), 436–445.
Korkmaz Karaman, F. T. (2022). James Joyce’s extimate modernism in Ulysses: A Lacanian take on language, subjectivity and temporality [Doctoral dissertation]. Middle East Technical University.
Keyes, D. (2004). Flowers for Algernon. Mariner Books.
Kuswanty, W. H., Arafah, B., Budiman, A. N. A., Ali, T., Fatsah, H., & Room, F. (2023). Students’ Perception of Explicit and Implicit Methods in Learning Tenses in SMP DDI Mangkoso. Theory and Practice in Language Studies, 13(6), 1473–1482.
Lacan, J. (2006). Écrits: The first complete edition in English (B. Fink, Trans.). W. W. Norton & Company.
Leech, G., & Short, M. (2007). Style in Fiction (2nd ed.). Pearson.
Lodge, D. (2002). Consciousness and the novel: Connected essays. Harvard University Press.
Manugeren, M., Arafah, B., Purwarno, P., Siwi, P., Ekalestari, S., & Wulan, S. (2023). An Ecoliterature Approach to Environmental Conservation: Take Four Selected Literary Works as Examples. Theory and Practice in Language Studies, 13(5), 1318–1327.
Mare, B. S., Arafah, B., Abbas, H., Rano, W. A., Almahdali, U. H., Wicaksono, C. K., Sari, R. A., & Malik, N. F. (2025). The Influence of Social Norms and Etiquette on the Behavior and Decision-Making of Characters in Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. Theory and Practice in Language Studies, 15(12), 4006–4016.
Meretoja, H. (2014). The Narrative Turn in Fiction and Theory The Crisis and Return of Storytelling from Robbe-Grillet to Tournier. Palgrave Macmillan.
Mutmainnah, Arafah, B., & Pattu, A. (2022). Racial Discrimination Experienced by Black People as Reflected in Langston Hughes’s Poems. Journal of Language Teaching and Research, 13(2), 350–356.
Poltoratska, A. (2025). The concept of inclusivity in Daniel Keyes’s “Flowers for Algernon.” Zhytomyr Ivan Franko State University Journal. Philological Sciences, 1(104), 51–63.
Rano, W. A., Arafah, B., Abbas, H., Almahdali, U. H., Wicaksono, C. K., Sari, R. A., Malik, N. F., & Mare, B. S. (2026). Social Class and Stratification in the Edwardian Era as Portrayed in Forster’s A Room With A View. Theory and Practice in Language Studies, 16(2), 639–648.
Ricoeur, P. (1991). Narrative identity. Philosophy Today, 35(1), 73–81.
Stockwell, P. (2002). Cognitive Poetics: An Introduction. Routledge.
Sunyoto, F. G., Arafah, B., Yudith, M., Mokodompit, G. P., & Asnawi, A. E. F. (2022). The Native American Father’s Parenting Style in John Ernst Steinbeck’s The Pearl. Theory and Practice in Language Studies, 12(12), 2551–2558.
Suparti, Kholiq, A., Arafah, B., Kaharuddin, Suhartono, & Milawati. (2025). The Effect of Brainstorming and Free Writing on Writing Skill Development: Teachers’ Feedback as a Mediator. Theory and Practice in Language Studies, 15(11), 3785–3797.
Takwa, Arafah, B., Hasyim, M., & Akhmar, A. M. (2024). Cultural Imagery of Tolaki Mekongga Community of Kolaka in Mowindahako Ritual. Theory and Practice in Language Studies, 14(3), 763–770.
Takwa, Arafah, B., Hasyim, M., Akhmar, A. M., & Taqdir. (2026a). Linguistic Units and Cultural Meanings in the Ritual Speech of Mowindahako Among the Tolaki Mekongga Ethnic Group. Journal of Language Teaching and Research, 17(2), 665–676.
Takwa, T., Arafah, B., Taqdir, T., Sarmadan, S., Tundreng, S., Pageyasa, W., Hariyadi, S., Rasid, R., Inpresani, W. O., & Mofu, H. (2026b). Local Knowledge for Coastal Resilience: Adaptive Strategies of Bajo Fishers in Pomalaa, Indonesia. Scientific Culture, 12(1.1), 1336–1347.
Taqdir, Arafah, B., & Nursidah. (2026). Perceptions of Cultural Representation in Japanese Language Textbooks: Insights From Students and Teachers in Indonesian Higher Education. Journal of Language Teaching and Research, 17(2), 622–633.
Taqdir, Arafah, B., Nursidah, & Wa Ode Nuniq Afisha, A. (2025). Gender Representation in Foreign Language Textbooks: Trends, Gaps, and Implications for Multilingual Teaching. XLinguae, 18(4), 225–242.
Usman, S., Arafah, B., Marhum, M., Munir, S., Budi, & Tadeko, N. (2024). The Effect of Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK) on Rural Area Students’ English Writing. Journal of Language Teaching and Research, 15(3), 884–892.
Yudith, M., Arafah, B., Abbas, H., Jaelani, A., Sunyoto, F. G., & Arafah, A. N. B. (2024). Social Issues During the Victorian Era Lead to the Formation of Nice Girl Syndrome in Gaskell’s Ruth. Journal of Language Teaching and Research, 15(3), 822–832.
Yudith, M., Arafah, B., Sunyoto, F. G., Fitriani, Rostan, R. B., & Nurdin, F. E. (2023). The Representation of Animalism Issue in Sewell’s Black Beauty. Theory and Practice in Language Studies, 13(1), 108–116.
