"It's the meat talking: ignore it": The Question of Posthuman Embodiment in William Gibson's Neuromancer and Kazuo Ishiguro's Never Let Me Go

---

Tezin Türü: Yüksek Lisans

Tezin Yürütüldüğü Kurum: Orta Doğu Teknik Üniversitesi, Eğitim Fakültesi, Yabancı Diller Eğitimi Bölümü, Türkiye

Tezin Onay Tarihi: 2023

Tezin Dili: İngilizce

Öğrenci: Mahir Onat Topal

Danışman: Elif Öztabak Avci

Özet:

This thesis examines the question of posthuman embodiment and condition in William Gibson's Neuromancer and Kazuo Ishiguro's Never Let Me Go, two seminal works in science fiction. Although there is an extensive body of research on each novel individually, there remains a gap in the literature regarding exploring the two novels together, specifically concerning posthuman embodiment. The novels merit an investigation together, as they reveal this topic's multifaceted and variegated nature. The central argument of this thesis is that the exploration of posthuman embodiment and condition in Neuromancer and Never Let Me Go reveals the intricate interplay between the posthuman body, autonomy, and power dynamics, emphasising the diverse manifestations and experiences of posthumanism in literature. Neuromancer challenges conventional notions of embodiment, often associating posthuman embodiment and disembodiment with autonomy, transcendence, and power. In contrast, Never Let Me Go offers a more emotionally resonant exploration, demonstrating that the clones, despite their indistinguishable "souls," have no choice over their status or bodies and are ultimately subjected to societal subjugation and control solely because of their posthuman bodies, designed to be harvested by "normal" humans. By investigating the manifestations of posthuman embodiment and condition in both novels, this thesis highlights the complex interplay between the posthuman body and power dynamics within each narrative, contributing to a deeper understanding of the posthuman experience in literature.