The Art of Manipulation: Exploring Gaslighting in James Thurber’s Narratives

Abstract

Gaslighting, a form of psychological manipulation, represents a complex discourse with significant linguistic dimensions. Despite its relevance, it has received relatively little attention in linguistic research. This paper investigates the linguistic manifestations of gaslighting in James Thurber’s works, drawing on excerpts from The Unicorn in the Garden (1939), The Little Girl and the Wolf (1939), and The Great Quillow (1944). The theoretical framework integrates speech act theory (Austin, 1961; Searle, 1979), the theory of the linguistic order of gaslighting (Catapang Podoski, 2020), and approaches from linguo-stylistics and discourse analysis (Lakoff & Johnson, 1981; Verdonk, 2002). The analysis demonstrates that gaslighting in Thurber’s stories is primarily enacted through explicit assertive speech acts. These assertives satisfy both preparatory and sincerity conditions, enabling the speaker to achieve the intended perlocutionary effect on the listener. In Thurber’s narratives, gaslighting is shown to operate predominantly as first-order gaslighting: it does not overtly negate the victim’s perception of reality. Still, it subtly reshapes it to the manipulator’s advantage. Moreover, stylistic devices such as epithets, similes, and metaphors enhance the linguistic construction of gaslighting, reinforcing manipulation strategies and rendering them more covert and insidious. This study provides insights into how language functions as a tool of manipulation and control, offering implications for literary analysis and the understanding of real-world communicative practices.