A Close Reading of Margaret Cavendish's 'The Contract' and an Analysis of its Narrative Strategies and Structures

Fiction & Literature, Literary Theory & Criticism, British
Cover of the book A Close Reading of Margaret Cavendish's 'The Contract' and an Analysis of its Narrative Strategies and Structures by Anonymous, GRIN Verlag
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Anonymous ISBN: 9783668260450
Publisher: GRIN Verlag Publication: July 15, 2016
Imprint: GRIN Verlag Language: English
Author: Anonymous
ISBN: 9783668260450
Publisher: GRIN Verlag
Publication: July 15, 2016
Imprint: GRIN Verlag
Language: English

Essay from the year 2014 in the subject English Language and Literature Studies - Literature, grade: 1,0 (A in England), Oxford University, language: English, abstract: The aim of this essay on Margaret Cavendish's novel 'The Contract' is to approach the text from a new perspective and to attempt a close reading of the narrative strategies in the novel and the way the mode of narration mirrors society's wish to capture and determine social relations. Research has already shown that 'The Contract' is 'the earliest extended critique in English prose fiction of the marriage market from a woman's standpoint' (Donovan 59). Attention has been drawn to the political references and allusions made in 'The Contract', and to the gender issues that are being raised in the novel. Concerning the former, Victoria Kahn has reminded us that romances were used politically during the reign of Charles I and the Protectorate (527) and has emphasized the analogy between the marriage contract and 'the hierarchical, inequitable political relations of sovereign and subject' (527). This analogy is especially valid in the contemporary context of the engagement controversy (1649-1652), 'when parliament sought to secure alliance to the new government of Cromwell after the execution of Charles I' and a statement of engagement had to be signed by all male citizens (535). According to her, 'The Contract' raises questions about the validity (529), the different sorts of contracts, and the motivation of people to sign contracts (526). Kahn has shown that The Contract is a comment on 'contemporary debates about political obligation', a comment that argues for a form of political obligation 'that is based on love rather than on filial obligation' (529), and which ironically makes the royalist Cavendish 'draw[] near to the parliamentarians' theory of an original and revocable contract between the people and their ruler' (530).

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

Essay from the year 2014 in the subject English Language and Literature Studies - Literature, grade: 1,0 (A in England), Oxford University, language: English, abstract: The aim of this essay on Margaret Cavendish's novel 'The Contract' is to approach the text from a new perspective and to attempt a close reading of the narrative strategies in the novel and the way the mode of narration mirrors society's wish to capture and determine social relations. Research has already shown that 'The Contract' is 'the earliest extended critique in English prose fiction of the marriage market from a woman's standpoint' (Donovan 59). Attention has been drawn to the political references and allusions made in 'The Contract', and to the gender issues that are being raised in the novel. Concerning the former, Victoria Kahn has reminded us that romances were used politically during the reign of Charles I and the Protectorate (527) and has emphasized the analogy between the marriage contract and 'the hierarchical, inequitable political relations of sovereign and subject' (527). This analogy is especially valid in the contemporary context of the engagement controversy (1649-1652), 'when parliament sought to secure alliance to the new government of Cromwell after the execution of Charles I' and a statement of engagement had to be signed by all male citizens (535). According to her, 'The Contract' raises questions about the validity (529), the different sorts of contracts, and the motivation of people to sign contracts (526). Kahn has shown that The Contract is a comment on 'contemporary debates about political obligation', a comment that argues for a form of political obligation 'that is based on love rather than on filial obligation' (529), and which ironically makes the royalist Cavendish 'draw[] near to the parliamentarians' theory of an original and revocable contract between the people and their ruler' (530).

More books from GRIN Verlag

Cover of the book Korrekte Ausführung einer Kurzhantelübung zum Trainieren des Trizeps-Armmuskels (Unterweisung Sportfachfrau / -fachmann) by Anonymous
Cover of the book Vergleichende Analyse der Rolle des Orthographieunterrichts auf Grundlage der Standards von Grundschulen und Gymnasien ausgewählter Bundesländer by Anonymous
Cover of the book Die Niederlande im Krieg gegen Spanien by Anonymous
Cover of the book Wozu Theologie als Wissenschaft an der Universität? by Anonymous
Cover of the book Alleinerziehend - Aspekte der Beratung für Ein-Eltern-Familien by Anonymous
Cover of the book Summerhill und Sexualerziehung by Anonymous
Cover of the book Der Einfluss von Innovationen auf den Erfolg des Modeunternehmens 'Zara' by Anonymous
Cover of the book Das städtische Museum Abteiberg in Mönchengladbach by Anonymous
Cover of the book LRS- Die Problematik der Ursachenklärung, der Diagnostik und der gezielten Förderung by Anonymous
Cover of the book Weihnachten - Ursprung, Geschichte und Brauchtum by Anonymous
Cover of the book Fiber board coffins on the Swedish funeral market. Target Costing and Co-Creation by Anonymous
Cover of the book Controlling im Profi-Fußball: Möglichkeiten und Grenzen für die Steuerbarkeit von sportlichem Erfolg by Anonymous
Cover of the book Herman Nohl - Die Bildung des Erziehers by Anonymous
Cover of the book Xerxes und die mesopotamische Kultur by Anonymous
Cover of the book Die globale Verfügbarkeit von nicht-energetischen Rohstoffen: Seltene Erden by Anonymous
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy