Fictions of the Self, 1550-1800

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The book explores the evolution of the self in relation to society through four distinct phases, beginning with its marginalization in picaresque literature and progressing to a stage of flourishing and seeking recognition. It then examines a defiant self attempting to assert its will over others, before culminating in a prophetic inward turn. The author connects these phases to the broader development of literature, highlighting the transition from mimetic to generative fiction and the shift from gesture to the power of language.