Living in Saffron Walden: constructing the self in writing after illness

This creative thesis comprises a memoir and an exegesis exploring the writing process. The memoir is in two major sections. The first involves a narrative of a serious medical event. The second is more reflective and deals with the impact on life following illness of this event. Both sections include fictive material that explores points of view other than those of the narrator. An alternate life narrative peppers both sections and the second section includes episodes related to travel. All of these episodes combine to create a complex analysis/representation of the nature of the self during and post illness, focussing on the issues of power and control. The exegesis is a theoretical exploration of this writing process. It involves analysis of the role of writing in the construction of self and the therapeutic possibilities of writing in this process. It examines the factors that impinge on this process, including the nature of memory and the impact of trauma. These in turn are placed in the context of medical discourse and the post graduate experience. The exegesis involves an analysis of theory through practice.

Submission note: A thesis submitted in total fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy to the School of Communication, Arts and Critical Enquiry, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, La Trobe University, Bundoora.