THE ONE WHO IS NOT AND CANNOT IN ALAIN MABANCKOU’S AFRICAN PSYCHO
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.25159/2078-9785/2832Keywords:
psychopath, psycho-sexual racism, dangerous individual, narcissism, pathologification, mimicryAbstract
This article seeks to examine the protagonist and narrator Grégoire Nokabamayo in Alain Mabanckou’s epic novel African Psycho. This is of interest in that this character is preoccupied by murderous lust and a desire to be like his idol, Anguoalima, who is known through his murÂderous legends and myths. The contention of this article is that Grégoire’s desire to be like his idol is something that borders on what is not and cannot be. This is because, as a petty criminal, Grégoire cannot ascend to the status that will make an impression on Anguoalima. This is mainly because his murderous desires are in the form of a psychic struggle which paralyses the actualisation of any deeds that will impress Anguoalima. Thus, what fixates Grégoire is that he is the subject of failure which results in him being unable to mimic Anguoalima.Metrics
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