In It’s all about being foolish: Reading Henry Fool, I attempt to explore the
questions of constructing a subjectivity through both a philosophical and a
psychoanalytical aspects. Henry Fool is an ironic comedy, which tells the story about
a young garbage man, Simon, transforms into an extraordinary talented great poet of
the world. Interestingly, his incredible genius on poetry is first inspired and later
discovered by a nomadic ex-con accused of child molesting, Henry Fool. By
borrowing the term pharmakon from Jacques Derrida, the first part of this study
examines the power of writing versus speech as well as the controversial effects of
Simon’s artistic work; whereas the second part draws a picture on how Julia
Kristeva’s concept of abjection and abject best explain the grotesque scenes
represented on screen.

Abstract … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … ...i
Chapter 1. Introduction … … … … … … … . . … … … … . … … … … … … … .1
Chapter 2. The Force of Writing … … … … … .. … … … . … … … … … … ...7
Chapter 3. Crossing the Borderline … … … … … .. … . … … … … … … … .33
Chapter 4. Conclusion … … … … … … … … … … … .. … … … … … … … ..53
Bibliography … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … .59

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