Tsvetkov, Y EXPLICIT AND IMPLICIT NARRATATOR IN CHRISTIAN KRACHT’S NOVEL IMPERIUM. Proceedings of Petrozavodsk State University. 2021;43(1):82–88. DOI: 10.15393/uchz.art.2021.571


Literary studies

EXPLICIT AND IMPLICIT NARRATATOR IN CHRISTIAN KRACHT’S NOVEL IMPERIUM

Tsvetkov
Yu. L. 		Ivanovo State University
Keywords:
narrator
explicit and implicit narratator
postmodernism
novel
Christian Kracht
Imperium		 Summary: The purpose of studying a famous novel Imperium (2012) by the modern Swiss writer Christian Kracht from the point of view of the current science of narratology is to recreate the characteristics of a fi ctitious reader (narratator) – the addressee of the fi ctitious narrator. Since the explicit image of the narratator created by the means of appeals is limited, the task is to reveal the image of the “ideal” (concipitated) reader, which is thought of as a certain spiritual reality. In order to achieve confi dence in the reader, the narrator calls the main character “our young man”, “our friend”, “young madcap”, etc. This kind and ironic attitude to the main character brings him closer to the reader and triggers an adequate reaction. Often the narrator uses the personal pronoun “we”, thus joining the fi ctitious reader in order to accompany them through the pages of the novel. The narrator accepts the reader as one of “his own kind” and trusts them no less than he trusts the main character, which is evidenced by the direct appeals, such as “Notice!” or “You ask me...?”. The study of the implicit image of the reader in the form of orientations (linguistic, epistemological, educational and ethical ones) enables to suggest for the fi rst time that the narrator has a high opinion of his recipient’s competence and standards of thinking. It is proved that the implicit narratator appears in the narrator’s representations for several reasons. First, the reader is seen as a sophisticated peruser of postmodern literature who is able to operate with such concepts as pastiche, analepsis or viewpoint. The narratator’s reading ability and erudition can be compared to those of a philologist of Germanic languages. Second, the narrator is convinced of the broad cultural outlook of the reader, who can be interested in numerous references to the history of navigation, philosophy, literature, music and fi ne arts. Third, the narrator is convinced of the narratator’s high moral qualities. In general, it can be stated that the main narrative feature of the novel is the fi ctitious narrator’s search for trust and intellectual solidarity with the fi ctitiou narratator, which eventually ensured the success of the novel with the readership.



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