NAVIGATING AN ALLISTIC WORLD - Authentic Autistic Representation in Sally Rooney’s Normal People

Abstract

Increasingly more adults are diagnosed with autism. Increased awareness about autism is probably one of the reasons. Autism is often depicted in an exaggerated and stereotypical way in fiction and the characters depicted are predominantly male. In other words, autistic women are underrepresented in fiction. It is thus important with more female autistic representation, and authentic and realistic portrayals of autism in fiction which autistic individuals can relate to. The novel Normal People by Sally Rooney is chosen as the object of analysis in this essay, in order to shed light on authentic and realistic autistic representation in literature. The novel is analysed by utilising close reading and disability-informed criticism, as well as drawing upon some ideas of structuralism. In the analysis, special attention is given to the female protagonist Marianne as well as the literary construction of the novel. The essay explores the novel from an autistic viewpoint. The examination focuses on which autistic traits Marianne presents and how autism is portrayed in the novel. The essay shows that Marianne is an implicit autistic character, that the novel authentically and realistically depicts autism without being stereotypical or stigmatising. The essay also shows that autistic traits can be found in the novel, and that by reading the novel we get a better understanding of autism and normality. The essay concludes that Marianne displays a wide range of autistic traits and that the most prominent literary technique used to portray autism is by contrasting autistic traits to allistic traits, especially so in communication.