Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Digital Commons Network

Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

English Language and Literature

Other

Theses/Dissertations

2021

Alternate-reality

Articles 1 - 1 of 1

Full-Text Articles in Entire DC Network

The Case Of Nemo Nobody: A Lacanian Study Of The Traumatic And Neurotic Relationships Of The Man Who Doesn't Exist, Brittany N. Sanders May 2021

The Case Of Nemo Nobody: A Lacanian Study Of The Traumatic And Neurotic Relationships Of The Man Who Doesn't Exist, Brittany N. Sanders

English Theses

Jaco Van Dormael’s 2009 film Mr. Nobody introduces us to Nemo Nobody, “the man who doesn’t exist.” Nemo is born with the impossible gift of omniscience and exercises this ability to know several of his possible lives before they occur. His childhood is characterized by ontological questions concerning time, existence, choices, and chance. Nemo’s inability to answer unanswerable questions sources the trauma that stems from the moment his life literally splits in two. Nemo’s parents separate when he is nine, and they leave it up to him to decide if he wants to leave with his mother or stay with …