MISE-EN-ABYME: THE PORTRAIT OF REMBRANDT IN THE CONFESSIONAL NOVEL ‘DANIEL MARTIN’ BY JOHN FOWLES (1977)

Abstract

This article proposes the importance of mise-en-abyme inclusion into the artistic whole of the self-reflexive confessional novel Daniel Martin (1977) by John Fowles. It is argued that Rembrandt’s late self-portrait provokes ideas for the novel reading and manifests itself as an emblem of artistic authenticity. Analytical reading of the psychological and existentialist scope of mise-en-abyme also focuses on playful use of self-reflexive means (metalepsis, short circuit, mirror leitmotif, fragmentality, stylization and other means). All these are aligned with the idea of confessional lack of closure.

Keywords

• confessional novel of an artist
• mise-en-abyme
• John Fowles
• Rembrandt
• self-portrait
• self-reflexive poetics
• lack of closure