Social Pathologies and the Fear of Ageing in Houellebecq’s Postmodern Narrative

Abstract In Michel Houellebecq’s écriture grise, the decline of Western civilisation is intertwined with contemporary maladies and the fear of ageing. A bleak depiction of ageing bodies functions as an extended metaphor for broader social pathologies, including the decline of spirituality, community well-being, and traditional values. Recurring themes such as the obsession with sex and anti-ageing bodywork, the cult of youth, compulsive consumerism, and erotic hedonism reflect Houellebecq’s critique of the transformations of the second half of the 20th century. Many of his protagonists, trapped in an existential midlife crisis and driven by anxieties related to intimate relationships and societal pressures to remain functional, youthful, and engaged, frequently resort to suicide. Using the framework of interdisciplinary age studies and the critical theory of social pathologies, this article discusses how Houellebecq’s characters struggle to navigate the challenges within competitive neoliberal imperatives, libidinal economies, and the discourse of successful ageing. It also underscores how his oeuvre, often characterised as apocalyptic, dystopian, or neo-decadent, advocates for authentic connection, care, faith, and unconditional love as essential components of human existence and survival.