Introduction

238
Melanie Swiatloch
basis of the close relation between the two forms of identification complicit
with the Imaginary – narcissism and aggressivity. It is precisely these two
forms of identification that constitute the dominant strategy of colonial
power exercised in relation to the stereotype which, as a form of multiple
and contradictory belief, gives knowledge of difference and simultaneously
disavows or masks it. Like the mirror phase ‘the fullness’ of the stereotype
– its image as identity – is always threatened by ‘lack’ (ibid. 77).
Bhabha connects these four elements to what he calls the four-term strategy. Thus
the metaphoric aspect combines with the narcissistic object-choice as does the
metonymic outline of lack with the aggressive part of the Imaginary (ibid. 77).
Optically, the colour of skin constitutes the most significant feature of racial difference
and discrimination (ibid. 78ff). This goes even so far that skin becomes
the “natural identity” (ibid. 80) of the stereotype. In case of the Irish the colour of
skin does not serve as a marker of difference for there is no visible difference. The
Irish subject thus is able to mask itself even better.
In Eureka Street the depiction of Northern Irish stereotypes and the Other is
best transmitted through the perception of non-Northern Irish people such as US
citizens or the foreign press. Bhabha’s theory of the Other thus can be best seen
when taking a closer look on Chuckie’s business associate Luke Findlater, an Englishman.
He represents the typical young urban high-flyer who comes from London
to Northern Ireland. His first visit to Derry during a business trip changes
everything for him as soon as he sets foot on the “crooked Irish pavement”
(McLiam Wilson 349). While taking a look round the town he only meets “overweight”,
“unhealthy” and all in all “ugly” men drinking on the street (ibid. 349ff).
Dressed well in a tweed suit with “handsome hair and kissable face” (ibid. 349) he
in contrast sees himself as “Helen of Troy or Rudolph Valentino”; “stupidly
handsome [and] arrestably beautiful amongst these troglodytic Hibernian halfmen”
(ibid. 350). Only the women seem to be acceptable to him although they are
different in Northern Ireland from where he comes from with “more make-up”
and “their hair […] stiff with unguents and sprays” (ibid. 350).
Luke’s perceptions of the Northern Irish people thus resemble Bhabha’s theory
of the Other and simultaneously the subjugation of the Irish by the British. By
degrading the men to uncivilised and uncultivated savages Luke gains the right to
“invade” the country and to seduce the women. His almost godlike appearance in
his view gives him the right to do that. The men he sees are a less perfect imitation
of him as are the women of the familiar English women. Their use of makeup
here at the same time highlights the masking of the colonised subject. The
narcissism and aggressiveness that are closely related to the imaginary described by
Bhabha are expressed in Luke’s abuse of the women. “After a week there had
been Saoirse, Siobhan and Deirdre. By a fortnight, Sinead and Aofie had added
their contributions, the third saw the advent of Orla, Una and Roisin” (ibid. 350).
Aggressiveness is conveyed in Luke’s ferocity to date women, narcissism in the