The Acest of Aces: Representations of Asexuality in Fiction - ProQuest
Nat Whrel
proquest.com
This thesis seeks to explore representations of asexuality in works of fiction, with a few
separate goals in mind. First, it sets out to show that, even prior to any formal recognition of
asexual identity in society, asexuals have always been present in society, and their existence has
historically been noted in fiction in a variety of ways. This discussion employs literary analysis
of the persona of Mark Twain, Archie Comics’ Jughead Jones, and Star Trek’s Spock. Second, it
will explain how representation of asexuality contributes to more general discourse about
sexuality and identity by increasing awareness of a form of identity which has historically been
ignored. Finally, it will describe how the narrative of a fictional work is fundamentally changed
when a main character is interpreted, not as a failed sexual individual, but as an asexual who is
effectively performing asexuality.