From Destabilisation to Reparative Connection: A Derridean Reading of Sally Rooney's Normal People

This research paper analyses Sally Rooney's Normal People through the lens of Derridean deconstruction, focusing on how the novel destabilises meaning, critiques binary oppositions, and subverts traditional narrative closure. The study explores how Rooney's portrayal of vulnerability and emotional openness offers a progressive relational ethic, aligning with Derrida's concept of différance. It argues that the text not only destabilises but also offers a reparative model of human connection, embracing ambiguity in an uncertain cultural landscape. The paper contributes to the literary discourse by demonstrating how deconstruction reveals not only fragmentation but also the potential for healing and relational openness.