Fictions of the Self, 1550-1800

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The exploration of self and society unfolds through four distinct phases: starting with the picaresque's marginal self, progressing to the flourishing recognition of figures like Defoe and Marivaux, evolving into a defiant assertion of will seen in authors such as Richardson and Goethe, and culminating in a prophetic inwardness with Diderot and Rousseau. This journey mirrors the evolution of literature itself, transitioning from mimetic to generative fiction, highlighting the shift from gesture to the power of language.