Kwong

Tiffany Kwong
Ms. Schwartz
ENG4U1-12
30 April 2015
Postmodern Elements Abandon the Idea of an Absolute Truth
Short sentences. Footnotes1, obtrusive voices, and a mix of styles are vital in
creating a postmodern piece of literature. These postmodern characteristics are evident
in both Behind the Scenes at the Museum by Kate Atkinson, and The Sisters Brothers
by Patrick DeWitt. The postmodern approach conveys the theme that there is no
singular idea of an absolute truth. This is demonstrated through the use of meta-fiction,
unreliable narratives, and the pastiche created through stylistic choices.

One of the elements of postmodernism are statements on the creation of fiction.

Metafiction occurs in both novels when the protagonists addresses the audience. It can
be observed when Ruby Lennox from Behind the Scenes, and Eli Sisters from The
Sisters Brothers narrate the situation and makes comments in brackets.
Eli often lights the candle on a stairwell wall near his hotel door, but realizes it
often gets snuffed out. On his way downstairs, he noticed, I returned to the lobby (the
candle, I noticed on my way down, had remained lit, the match untouched) (DeWitt 61).
From this quote, it is evident that Elis comment regarding the candle has no ulterior
purpose. However, it is a piece of information Eli provides to allow readers to
experience his perspective. In addition, his comment explores the symbol of light used
1 Footnote /ftnt/ - An additional piece of information printed at the bottom of a page or a
thing that is additional or less important (Oxford).

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throughout this novel to represent innocence. Another instance where he directly

addresses the readers occurs when he introduces Henry Morris diary, What follows is
a verbatim transcription of all pertinent sections of the journal of Henry Morris, as
related to his mysterious partnership with Hermann Kermit Warm and the defection from
his post as the Commodores scout and longtime confidant (184). This demonstrates
how the speaker breaks the fourth wall by speaking directly to the readers.
Similarly, while watching a Pantomime act with her family, Ruby wonders,
Hansel and Gretel hide under a pile of leaves (Why is there a panda? Perhaps to make
Patricia happy - she nudges me and says, Look! A panda! a note of rare happiness in
her voice) (Atkinson 163). She expresses curiosity to the reader, and questions the
ideas about meaning and communication, such as the pandas existence on stage with
Hansel and Gretel. This promotes the writing process of storytelling, which in turn,
allows readers to focus on the narrators perspective. The absence of an absolute truth
is communicated through realism. There are many perspectives in stories, which
support the fact that there is no absolute truth.

These protagonists admit the text is not an objective representation, but a

fractured narrative. In Behind the Scenes at the Museum, chronology is fragmented and
attention to realism and accuracy is disregarded. There is emphasis placed on the
fragmented nature of the text throughout both novels.

In The Sisters Brothers, Eli admits he does not know the whole truth. The reason
why the Commodore sent the brothers to hunt to kill Hermann Kermit Warm, until he
discovers Morris diary (DeWitt 193). Upon this revelation, Elis original perspective of

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authority shifts. This change in persona is depicted through Henry Morris diary is a
cleverly used plot device. It embodies postmodernity by incorporating an interrupting
narrative of Morris, rather than Eli. At this turning point, the hero and villain roles
become reversed.
Likewise, Ruby does not know the whole truth about Pearl, her twin who passed
away at the young age of four, until Mr. Belling accused her of killing her sister (Atkinson
285). Once Rubys memories returned, her perspective and understanding of her life
shifts. This claim filled the gap within her, in this gap lies the truth. Since the beginning,
Ruby describes an Outer Darkness (104) as the emptiness in her soul. Moreover, she
experiences a strange sensation when she watches a frozen river, a curious feeling
rises up inside me, a feeling of something long forgotten. It has something to do with the
cold and the ice and something to do with the water too (203-204). The function of
memory plays a role to address the mistaken illusions of reality, which can be illustrated
through different styles of a fractured narrative. It echoes the use of postmodernism by
leaving behind the idea of a universal truth, where Ruby is aware of her twin sisters
death. Both Ruby and Eli uncover significant information towards the end of the novel.
The unreliable protagonists personifies the lack of truth with their lack of knowledge.

Each novel contains a pastiche from mixing styles and genres. These tragicomic
novels combines grief, and farcical family conflict, in the Lennox and Sisters household.
The similarity of postmodern elements, such as the combination of a tragedy and
comical genre is another aspect which both novels share.

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In The Sisters Brothers, both Intermissions feature a young girl with an innocent
first impression. This is justified by her clean appearance in fine clothing and setting in
front of a stereotypical white picket fenced house. Readers, however soon discover she
has malevolent intentions and committed violent crimes. The young girl points out the
contrast between illusion and reality. These elements take on the picaresque genre
through the elements of good and evil at work, transforming innocence into impurity.
In Behind the Scenes at the Museum, the picaresque genre is depicted through
the cherub gene effect. For instance, Gillian displays the angelic appearance but are
followed by death in their untimely ends, which parallels the fates of Ada, Albert,
Edmund, and possibly, Pearl. Those with the innocent blond curls and forget-me-not
eyes unfortunately have the dark consequence of passing away at a young age. These
elements of innocence falling victim to something dark promotes the truth that can only
be revealed upon further inspection.

In conclusion, or rather, a lack of (postmodern text often views reality as a

construction and questions the concrete solutions of science and math) the elements
found in both novels exhibit the process of storytelling, an incomplete representation of
events and a blend of writing styles. All of which contribute to confirm the notion that
there is no absolute truth. After all, does an absolute truth exist?
Works Cited
Atkinson, Kate. Behind the Scenes at the Museum. New York: St. Martin's, 1996. Print.
DeWitt, Patrick. The Sisters Brothers. New York: Ecco, 2011. Print.
Oxford. "Footnote." Oxford Dictionaries. Web.

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(Word Count: 1060)