The American Myth, when “Light cannot Exist without Darkness”, Natty Bumppo and Dexter Morgan

Abstract

Nowadays, in the English Department of the University of Algiers 2, the Academic field of Anglo-Saxon investigations mostly focuses on canonical literature and tends to marginalize popular studies. This research examines the role of popular culture in advancing newness under the light of traditions found in canonical literature. With this in mind, the present thesis juxtaposes James Fenimore Cooper’s The Leatherstocking Tales (1823-1841) to Jeff Lindsay’s popular novels Dexter(2004-2015). The aim of this study is to trace the evolution of the archetypal American Hero and the American Myth from the 19th Century canonical literature to the 21st Century popular culture. An alternating method of comparison between Natty Bumppo and Dexter Morgan, respectively Cooper’s and Lindsay’s protagonists, was conducted in this research. More precisely, the study juxtaposed scholars of the American Myth and Symbol School namely, Richard Slotkin’s myth of “Regeneration through Violence” and John G. Cawelti and his concept of “Formula” and popular myths of violence in popular studies