Crisis of Masculinity in Nick’s Hornby About a Boy (1998) and Slam (2007)

Abstract

This dissertation concerns itself with those issues that are related to men and masculinity, in fact the only loser after the battle of gender equality is Men. The study at hand seeks the reality of masculinity crisis through analysing the major works of the British writer Nick Hornby About a Boy (1998) and Slam (2007) by applying the psychoanalysis theory of the British psychotherapist Rogger Horrocks. Seemingly, male crisis affects men and their relationships in a negative way, and in their attempts to avoid this kind of trouble, men fell in another crisis; an existential crisis. Applying the Horrocks psychoanalysis on Hornby’s selected works makes it evident that the main characters Marcus, Sam and Will are accused of being in masculinity crisis, bullying issue in Marcus, the issue of fatherhood and gynophobia in Sam, Will and his social immaturity, in fact weird personality, immaturity, bullying, lack of fatherhood and also gynophobia are the traits of masculinity crisis.