Bodies that Fester in the Holds of the “Coffin Ships”: Postcolonial Neo-Victorianism, Vulnerability and Resistance in Joseph O’Connor’s Star of the Sea (2003)

The presence of Empire in the Victorian period and its aftermath has become a new trope neo-Victorian studies, introducing postcolonial approach to re-writing past. This, combined with metaphor sea as symbol British colonial maritime power, makes Joseph O’Connor’s novel Star Sea story love, vulnerability identity. Set winter 1847, it tells voyage group Irish refugees travelling New York trying escape from Famine. history Ireland long tradition English dominance becomes setting characters’ fight for survival. Parallels today’s can be established after Ireland’s transformation into an immigration country. Following Judith Butler’s Sarah Bracke’s notions resistance together ideas about ‘the other’ neo-Victorianism, this article aims analyse role construction identity associated poverty disease, re-emergence reconstruction through healing contemporary globalised scenario. For purpose, I resort Edward Said’s Michael Hardt Antonio Negri’s imperialism along Elizabeth Ho’s concept Neo-Victorian-at-sea’ some critics’ approaches Gothic. My main contention throughout text will that foster healing.