Use of the Persona

Paper Summary:

In this article, the writer discusses that the construction and use of a persona in works of literature is both an ancient and controversial literary strategy. This essay explores the employment of this strategy in two works that use the device of a persona in detailing struggles with drug addiction: Thomas de Quincey's 'Confessions of an English Opium Eater' and James Frey's 'A Million Little Pieces'. Beginning with a historical background of the theory and practice of the persona in literature, the essay moves to a detailed analysis of its use in both texts. The thesis is argued that the persona is used by both authors to undermine authorial presence in supposedly autobiographical texts in order to heighten both romantic and photo realistic literary effects.

From the Paper:

"In Thomas de Quincey's Confessions of an English Opium Eater the use of a persona allows the author to set what are presumably autobiographical experiences in a romantic framework. This is apparent early in the text - before the reader reaches the discussion of opium and its effects - when we see the de Quincey depicting his persona's relationship with the impoverished Ann. This sad and touching story clearly creates sympathy for the reader with the persona. It may be argued that de Quincey is employing it for precisely this effect in the story in order to offset any initial distaste the reader may have for a persona that gradually slips into opium addiction. Thus, we can see how even in a supposedly autobiographical work, the persona may be understood in literary terms as a device set within a literary framework to achieve specific purposes in the minds of the audience."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Cherry, Roger. "Ethos vs. Persona: Self-representation in Written Discourse." Written Communication. 15.3 (1998): 384-410.
• De Quincey, Thomas. Confessions of an English Opium Eater. Project Gutenberg. Accessed: September 18, 2006. www.gutenberg.org.
• Frey, James. A Million Little Pieces. New York: Random House, 2003.
• Lindop, Grevel. "De Quincey and the Cursed Crocodile." Essays in Criticism. 45.2 (1995): 121-140.
• Wikipedia. A Million Little Pieces. Accessed: November 20, 2006. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Million_Little_Pieces

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