A representação do físico na obra Solar, de Ian Mcewan

Abstract

Between science and literature, despite their language differences, there are more points in common than one would imagine. One of these points is the presence of characters from science in literary works. Thus, one of the main objectives of this research is to investigate how characters originally from the natural sciences, especially physicists, are represented in literature. In order to answer this question, this dissertation uses as its object of study the novel Solar, by the British writer Ian McEwan, and as a method, the Analysis of Content.The theoretical foundation is focused on the study of the concept of narrative focus, on the identification of different types of narrators, and on the presentation of a theory of character, based on the ideas of Mikhail Bakhtin and Antonio Candido. An analysis of the biographical profile of the writer and of the external components of the novel (dedication and epigraph) reveals an intended goal of provoking reflection on the problem of global warming.A study of the narrative focus of Solar reveals that there is an "implied author” – in terms of Wayne Booth –, a predominance of the scene and a narration in free indirect discourse, giving the narrative richness and fluidity. The physicist presented in Solar brings together a set of features that valorize the fact that the protagonist is a famous scientist and Nobel Laureate, while also pointing out the negative aspects of his personality, as often inspired by known figures of science, such as Albert Einstein and Paul Dirac.The different stereotypes used in the composition of the character have also been analyzed, including the idea that a scientist can be an insensitive individual, incapable of emotional relationships, concerned only with his own work, and neglecting professionals from other areas of knowledge.In the end, it has been demonstrated that the concepts of scientific thought of the protagonist describe him as a physicist with a positivist mentality – he believes in a science that do not consider the human presence, deterministic and casuistic. He is conservative, biased, and struggles to understand and accept new ideas.