The Interface between Quantum Mechanics and Historiographic Metafiction in Neo-Victorian Literature: John Fowles’ The French Lieutenant’s Woman (1969) and Julian Barnes's Arthur And George (2005)

Abstract

The emergence of modern physics theory, Quantum Mechanics, has rapidly become an inspiring approach to literature. It is a theory that displays the underlying correlation between fiction and science that goes beyond questioning the nature of reality and its representation. This thesis intends to delve into an underexplored area in a recent postmodernist discussion regarding the entanglement of science, as explained by Quantum theory interpretations, and literature, as reflected by the depiction of the Neo-Victorian era in two British contemporary novels. Therefore, this research displays the common aspects shared between the Neo-Victorian Historiographic Metafiction and Quantum Mechanics in John Fawles’ The French Lieutenant’s Woman (1969) and Julian Barnes’ Arthur and George (2005). In particular, these two fields, which this research explores, underpin concepts to Fawles’ and Barnes’ narratives, such as uncertainty about reality representation, alternative histories, and temporal distortion. In their portrayal of Victorian society, Fowles' and Barnes' novels are riddled with complicated themes relating not only to the choice of characters but also to how narratively their worlds are fabricated, allowing for scientific based approach to take place in order to excavate concepts of alternative endings and a multiplicity of narratives. These novels call into question historical narratives, such as uncertainties about the authenticity of historiography and realistic fiction, all of which contribute to bridging the void that the perceived history leaves and encompasses a desire for an Alternative History and the disruption of traditional forms of narration. The main endeavour, in this thesis, is presented by examining aspects shared by the Neo-Victorian Historiographic Metafiction and Quantum Mechanics in the two stories. Those aspects serve as a foundation for evaluating contemporary narratives that tend to recreate the Victorian society and support the argument that a recent scientific approach could be utilized to scrutinize postmodern narratives.