Social Change in the 19th Century Novel

Luddism, Chartism and the Women's Question in Charlotte Brontë's 'Shirley'

Fiction & Literature, Literary Theory & Criticism, British
Cover of the book Social Change in the 19th Century Novel by Marco Sievers, GRIN Publishing
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Marco Sievers ISBN: 9783640382590
Publisher: GRIN Publishing Publication: July 24, 2009
Imprint: GRIN Publishing Language: English
Author: Marco Sievers
ISBN: 9783640382590
Publisher: GRIN Publishing
Publication: July 24, 2009
Imprint: GRIN Publishing
Language: English

Examination Thesis from the year 2008 in the subject English - Literature, Works, grade: 1,0, University of Hannover (Philosophische Fakultät / Englisches Seminar), language: English, abstract: The approach of this dissertation is based on New Historicism and Cultural Materialism, and examines the processes of social change in the novel. It contextualises the industrial plot of 'Shirley' on two time levels, on the level of the setting (1811-12) and on the level of the novel's production and publication (1848-49).The study first elaborates on 'Shirley' as a condition of England novel before shedding light on the historical conditions and their representation in the novel's setting. Subsequently, it describes Luddism and Chartism as historical working-class movements, to show that Charlotte Brontë's choice of Luddism was partly motivated by fears of political reprisals, by institutional constraints of the publishing sector, as well as by the power of public opinion. Furthermore, this paper deals with the author's technique of backdating as a strategy to indirectly comment on Chartism. The examination then turns to the novel's representation of the Luddites, and discusses whether the portrayal of the machine wreckers is just a 'lurid travesty', as Terry Eagleton contends (cf. Eagleton, 49). It demonstrates that the novel is based on thoroughly researched historical facts and exhibits an ambivalent attitude towards the weavers, which suggests a Tory and middle-class view on the Luddites. By suggesting paternalism as a solution to the plight of the working classes 'Shirley' not only criticizes prevailing philosophical and economic currents, like liberalism and utilitarianism, but also resembles the cultural criticism of the Scottish historian and essayist Thomas Carlyle. The study also discusses further possible explanations for the peculiar portrayal of the Luddites. By referring to the relationships between the upper and middle classes in the 19th century it demonstrates that the novel can be read as an advocacy of a class-consolidation between the gentry and the industrial middle classes in order to counter Chartism. The religious affiliations of the novel's Luddites and the clergy's demeanour towards the weavers allow another interpretation which foregrounds rivalries between the Anglican Church and dissenting denominations. A third approach relates Shirley to the liberal-progressive Whig-interpretation of history and suggests that the historical setting and the industrial events repudiate this notion by a cyclical idea of history based on suffering and resistance. [...]

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

Examination Thesis from the year 2008 in the subject English - Literature, Works, grade: 1,0, University of Hannover (Philosophische Fakultät / Englisches Seminar), language: English, abstract: The approach of this dissertation is based on New Historicism and Cultural Materialism, and examines the processes of social change in the novel. It contextualises the industrial plot of 'Shirley' on two time levels, on the level of the setting (1811-12) and on the level of the novel's production and publication (1848-49).The study first elaborates on 'Shirley' as a condition of England novel before shedding light on the historical conditions and their representation in the novel's setting. Subsequently, it describes Luddism and Chartism as historical working-class movements, to show that Charlotte Brontë's choice of Luddism was partly motivated by fears of political reprisals, by institutional constraints of the publishing sector, as well as by the power of public opinion. Furthermore, this paper deals with the author's technique of backdating as a strategy to indirectly comment on Chartism. The examination then turns to the novel's representation of the Luddites, and discusses whether the portrayal of the machine wreckers is just a 'lurid travesty', as Terry Eagleton contends (cf. Eagleton, 49). It demonstrates that the novel is based on thoroughly researched historical facts and exhibits an ambivalent attitude towards the weavers, which suggests a Tory and middle-class view on the Luddites. By suggesting paternalism as a solution to the plight of the working classes 'Shirley' not only criticizes prevailing philosophical and economic currents, like liberalism and utilitarianism, but also resembles the cultural criticism of the Scottish historian and essayist Thomas Carlyle. The study also discusses further possible explanations for the peculiar portrayal of the Luddites. By referring to the relationships between the upper and middle classes in the 19th century it demonstrates that the novel can be read as an advocacy of a class-consolidation between the gentry and the industrial middle classes in order to counter Chartism. The religious affiliations of the novel's Luddites and the clergy's demeanour towards the weavers allow another interpretation which foregrounds rivalries between the Anglican Church and dissenting denominations. A third approach relates Shirley to the liberal-progressive Whig-interpretation of history and suggests that the historical setting and the industrial events repudiate this notion by a cyclical idea of history based on suffering and resistance. [...]

More books from GRIN Publishing

Cover of the book Professional Re-Stratification of the Jews in the Works of Oxaal/Weitzmann and Blohm/Cahen by Marco Sievers
Cover of the book Children with Specific Language Impairment by Marco Sievers
Cover of the book Discussion of ethics in Public Relations and applicability of consequentalist theories by Marco Sievers
Cover of the book What Did Lenin Mean by 'Communism'? by Marco Sievers
Cover of the book African-American English by Marco Sievers
Cover of the book Language material in grammars and dictionaries: Authentic or thematically related? by Marco Sievers
Cover of the book Töten im Krieg by Marco Sievers
Cover of the book The evolution of language - an unsolvable mystery? by Marco Sievers
Cover of the book The Darfur Crisis and the regional and international response to it by Marco Sievers
Cover of the book Max Weber: Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism by Marco Sievers
Cover of the book 'Out of the Dark into the Light' - The changing attitude of Cosima Noline towards death alters her life by Marco Sievers
Cover of the book IBM and the business ethics by Marco Sievers
Cover of the book The Entertainment King. A Case Study of Walt Disney Co. by Marco Sievers
Cover of the book Global Corporate Strategy - A Critical Analysis and Evaluation of Amazon.com by Marco Sievers
Cover of the book Compare and contrast male and female language usage by Marco Sievers
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