The theory has been applied to several fields outside the traditional realm of science, such as psychology, economics, and literature. I will be examining the second definition of chaos theory with respect to French literature, particularly Diderot s Jacques le Fataliste . Jacques le Fataliste is particularly appropriate for this study as it has a chaotic structure itself.
Characters seem to pop up out of nowhere and the stories are told in no particular order.
Previous critical attempts to explain the work have resulted in only partial explanations. I hope to ultimately find the order within the chaotic narrative of Jacques le Fataliste . My goals are to understand chaos theory as a scientific theory first and then as a literary theory. I will take a look at chaos theory while keeping in mind such literary theories as postmodernism and poststructuralism. Also, while analyzing Diderot s work I want to take a look at the culture and historical backgrounds of the author and of the work.