A Lacanian Perspective on Face and Identity in Ariel Dorfman’s Mascara

In this study, the unnamed narrator of Ariel Dorfman’s Mascara, who has a congenital facial peculiarity, is examined through Jacques Lacan’s critical ideas on formation subject. Lacan gives an extensive account process individual’s becoming subject and positions takes in relation to social structures. The subject’s tendency conform norms society closely intertwined with continuous “desire” that arises existential lack. For someone having atypical appearance, just like protagonist burden lack doubled because he lacks both being face, most body part assigning identity individual. Due his featureless novel conferred devalued status offered by wider as Other. Highly aware outsider, believes it possible for him become visible ordinary someone’s love. Although be recognized woman costs life, neither death nor absence physical face prevents Mascara from getting what demands, which remembrance. Drawing theoretical framework Lacan, article offers occurrence stigma subordinate category due set expectations are transformed into “ideal” “standard.”