THE THERAPEUTIC POTENTIAL OF THE BRITISH NOVEL “THE MIDNIGHT LIBRARY” BY MATT HAIG: LINGUOCONCEPTUAL ANALYSIS

Abstract

This scholarly investigation addresses a pertinent issue in contemporary literary studies and linguistics: the analysis of the therapeutic potential of fiction through the lens of linguoconceptual analysis. The object of study is the novel “The Midnight Library” by British author Matt Haig, examined as a representative example of modern English-language prose that engages with existential questions of human existence. The research provides a comprehensive theoretical exploration of therapeutic discourse and bibliotherapy, elucidating their correlation with the conceptual content of the analyzed novel. The central aspect of the study is the identification and detailed analysis of the dominant concept within the thematic group of ‘existential problems’ – EXISTENTIAL CRISIS. The stages of this concept’s development in the narrative structure are examined, with particular emphasis on its lexical and stylistic representation within the context of therapeutic discourse. The results demonstrate that the realization of the EXISTENTIAL CRISIS concept in “The Midnight Library” possesses significant therapeutic potential. The study reveals that the concept’s dynamics are presented through three sequential stages: crisis initiation, immersion in the crisis state, and the culminating phase of the crisis. This structure correlates with the internal evolution of the protagonist, Nora Seed, creating for the reader a model for overcoming existential crisis. The research establishes that the complex utilization of lexical and stylistic means of verbalizing of the studied concept – including scientific terminology, philosophical notions, metaphorical constructions, hyperboles, and anaphoric repetitions – enhances the emotional impact on the reader and facilitates a deeper immersion into the character’s inner world. The study concludes that “The Midnight Library” exemplifies a synthesis of artistic contemplation of existential problems and therapeutic influence on the reader. This approach not only expands the boundaries of traditional understanding of literature but also opens new perspectives for interdisciplinary research at the intersection of literary studies, linguistics, and psychology.