Analysis of the third paragraph of the second chapter

of  Nice Work by David Lodge

In the third part of the second paragraph the narrator described Robyn’s philosophy which she calls “semiotic materialism”. The first word (semiotic) refers to the study of signs and their relation to meaning and the second word (materialism) excludes a metaphysical interpretation. The basis this philosophy is Jeaques Derrida’s famous expression “there is nothing out side the text”. Since every text is a production of intertexuality and citation of other texts. As a consequence, Robyn believe that nothing is original and there is only production of self in language. “You are what speaks you” which  means that we are the result of a net of references.

Going on, the narrator come between the description to connote the character telling “It might seem a bit bleak, a bit inhuman”. I think that in this expression the narrator have used  the irony, indeed he describes the point of view of a not intelligent reader, a person who don’t understand Robyn philosophy.

An other important word in Robyn Philosophy is “deterministic”. She explains that a subject is determined only if he is not aware of being the manifestation of a net of discourses.

Then the narrator underlines that Robyn is a ordinary person, and her philosophy doesn’t affect her behaviour very noticeable.