SpectralityinModernistFictionarguesthatkeymodernistwriters,chieflyConrad,Forster,Butts,andBowen,usespectralrhetorictotackleproblemsofsexandsexuality,revolution,imperialism,capitalism,anddesireallthroughcomplicatedethicalengagements.Theseengagementsinvariablycomepackagedin,andareshapedby,thelanguageofspectrality.Initscapacitytoarticulateaparticularsortofrelationshipbetweenthepast,thepresentandthefuture,thespectralconcernsthebasicquestionofhowtoproceed,howtolivewith-maybeevenaddress-ethicalindeterminacy.Whethertheirspectralrhetorictracesthelogicsofcapitalistpossession(Conrad),queer“friendship“andpaganizedChristianity(Forster),regressivepoliticshauntedbyhistoricaltraumas(Butts),orthedeviouspassagesofperversedesire(Bowen),thesewriterslocatesomethinglikehopeintheirghosts.Theethicalandpoliticalimpassestheychartthroughtheirspectralrhetoricarenotfinal,buttemporary,andthedrivetoovercomethemconstitutesatensileoptimism.
