Identity as Nidus: A Polyphonic Reading of Joseph Hellers Good as Gold

Abstract

Joseph Heller is acknowledged as one of the prominent writers of twentieth century. His works have received great critical acclaim for his engaging response to the socio-economic-political events of the postwar period. As such, his works have become profound transcripts of a life and a vision that had lost its ideals. Also, he provides a satirical commentary of life through his novels which focus on the erosion of humanistic values and the ways in which language obscures and confuses reality. The present study attempts to analyze Hellers Good as Gold (1979), through the lens of Mikhail Bakhtins theory of polyphony, which offers a rich exploration of the multiple voices of the text. At other end of the spectrum, the novel deals with the issue of identity and the desire to succeed in a situation where modern man is caught within the powerful tentacles of the society.