The Lilliputian Mentality in Arnold Wesker’s The Journalist: An Exploration of Parochialism and Small-Mindedness in Contemporary Journalism

Abstract

The study explores the Lilliputian mentality in Arnold Wesker’s The Journalist. It examines how the play critiques parochialism and small-mindedness in contemporary journalism. The study seeks to uncover the social commentary in Wesker’s work regarding journalism’s impact on public consciousness. Arnold Wesker’s The Journalist (1960) critiques the media’s role in shaping public opinion. It reveals the shallow, reductive approach of journalists to their subjects. The term Lilliputian mentality, from Jonathan Swift’s Gulliver's Travels, describes a mindset that is narrow and limited. Wesker’s play reflects these concerns, showing how journalism often oversimplifies complex issues. This study uses a qualitative, literary analysis approach. It examines The Journalist through the lens of the Lilliputian mentality. Key scenes, character interactions, and themes are analyzed in the context of 1960s Britain. Secondary sources on Wesker’s work and journalism theory support the analysis. The analysis shows that Wesker’s journalist character embodies the Lilliputian mentality. The play illustrates the parochialism of the profession. It focuses on sensationalism, oversimplification, and superficial coverage of complex issues. The characters’ limited worldview makes them complicit in distorting public discourse. The study finds that The Journalist critiques journalism’s role in society. It also comments on the dangers of reducing complex issues to trivial soundbites. The characters’ inability to perceive the larger context of their work reflects their small-mindedness. The Lilliputian mentality in The Journalist critiques contemporary journalism. It shows how the profession’s narrow focus fosters parochialism and misunderstanding. Wesker’s work encourages reflection on the media’s ethical responsibilities. It calls for a shift towards a more nuanced, thoughtful approach to reporting