TRANSTEXTUALITY: THE STUDY OF ADAPTATION IN JANE SMILEY’S A THOUSAND ACRES

Abstract

The research explores the transtextual relationship between A Thousand Acres (1991) and King Lear (1606) by examining how Jane Smiley's novel revises, reinterprets, and transforms Shakespearean tragedy within a contemporary American context. Grounded in Gérard Genette's theory of transtextuality, the study specifically employs the concept of hypertextuality to investigate how A Thousand Acres functions as a hypertext of King Lear. Through this relationship, the novel adapts and reshapes the themes, characters, and conflicts of the source text while introducing new perspectives and contemporary social concerns. The study focuses on significant themes such as patriarchy, sexism, power, family conflict, trauma, memory, and domestic violence. Unlike Shakespeare's play, which primarily centers on Lear's tragedy, Smiley's novel shifts the narrative focus to Ginny and gives voice to previously marginalized female characters. This narrative transformation challenges traditional patriarchal authority and exposes hidden realities of abuse, gender inequality, and the psychological suffering of women. Furthermore, the study highlights both the parallels and divergences between the two texts. While A Thousand Acres retains the structural foundation of King Lear, it simultaneously reconstructs and recontextualizes the original narrative to reflect modern feminist and sociocultural realities. The findings demonstrate that the novel is not merely an imitation of Shakespeare's play but a creative reinterpretation that expands the source text's meaning and enhances its relevance for contemporary readers. Ultimately, this research illustrates how transtextuality, particularly through hypertextuality, enables classical literary works to be continuously reshaped and reimagined across different historical, cultural, and ideological contexts.