Althusser’s Perspective of Ideology in Hilary Mantel’s Bring Up the Bodies

The present study examines Hilary Mantel’s Bring Up the Bodies through the Althusserian study based on ideological reading. Hilary Mantel’s Bring Up the Bodies stand out as prime examples of this genre, providing a complex portrayal of power dynamics, political maneuvering, and ideological shifts during the reign of Henry VIII. By presenting Thomas Cromwell not as a traditional villain but as a pragmatic strategist, Mantel challenges dominant historical narratives and invites readers to reconsider the construction of history itself. From a theoretical perspective, Louis Althusser’s philosophy of ideology offers an insightful framework for analyzing Mantel’s representation of disciplinary power and subjectivity. Althusser argues that ideology is not merely a set of beliefs but a material practice that shapes individuals into subjects through Ideological and Repressive State Apparatuses (ISAs and RSAs). Althusser’s concept of interpellation - the process by which individuals are “hailed” into ideological systems - plays a crucial role in Cromwell’s ascent in Henry VIII’s court. Moreover, Althusser’s distinction between Ideological State Apparatuses (ISAs) and Repressive State Apparatuses (RSAs) provides a structured approach to understanding how authority is maintained, challenged, and ultimately reshaped within Mantel’s narrative. Cromwell, as both subject and enforcer of ideology, exemplifies the tensions between individual agency and disciplinary power.). Mantel’s depiction of Thomas Cromwell’s rise to power provides an ideal case study for exploring how ideology operates within political structures, personal ambition, and historical revisionism. This study aims to apply Althusser’s theories to Mantel’s novels, exploring how Bring Up the Bodies depicts the intersection of ideology, history, and political transformation and reflect misrecognition.

کلیدواژه ها:

Ideological State Apparatus ، Ideology ، Interpellation ، Repressive State Apparatus.