FACULTY OF EDUCATION Bachelor study: Specializace v ...

FACULTY OF EDUCATION
Bachelor study: Specializace v pedagogice
Field of study: Lektorství Anglického jazyka The concept of 'purity' in Thomas Hardy's Tess of the d'Urbervilles BACHELOR THESIS
Author: Danielová Martina
Consultant: PhDr. Pavel Dole?el, Csc.
Brno, December 2010
Faculty of Education
Session 2010/2011
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CONTENT SPECIFICATION
Author Martina Danielová
Bachelor study: Specializace v pedagogice
Field of study Lektorství Anglického
jazyka Subject matter: The Concept of 'purity' in Thomas Hardy's Tess of the d'Urbervilles Syllabus:
Introduction
I. Theoretical part
On the basis of recommended literature investigate the aspects of
Victorian way of life,
stages of Victorian novel and literary achievement of Thomas
Hardy till 1895.
II. Practical part
Analyse the novel 'Tess of the d'Urbervilles,' search for the concept
of Victorian woman.
Conclusion
Range specification: 56 pages Specialized literature:
1. Ford, Boris. The Pelican Guide to English Literature, volume 6 from
Dickens to Hardy. Penguin Books Ltd, 1958.
2. Kirkpatrick, D.L. Reference guide to English literature. Vol. 2,
Writers H-Z. Chicago: St. James Press, 1991.
3. Matthew H.C.G. and Brian Harrison. Oxford dictionary of national
biography: from the earliest times to the year 2000: in association
with the British Academy. Vol. 25, Hanbury-Hay. Oxford: Oxford
University Press, 2004.
4. Moran, Maureen. Victorian Literature and Culture. London: Continuum,
2006.
5. Outsby, Ian. The Cambridge Guide to Literature in English. Cambridge:
CUP, 1992.
6. Waller, Philip. Writers, readers, and reputations: literary life in
Britain 1870-1918. New York: OUP, 2006.
7. Warren, E. Preece. Encyclopaedia Britannica, Vol. 1-23. Chicago: 1965.
8. Watt, Ian. The Victorian Novel, Modern Essays in Criticism. Oxford:
OUP, 1971.
Started at: June 2010
Due to: December
2010 L. S.
______________________
_________________________
Martina Danielová
PhDr. Pavel Dole?el, Csc.
Author
Consultant
_________________________________
doc. RNDr. Josef Trna, CSc.
Dean, Faculty of Education
[Abstract]
The bachelor thesis deals with the general concept of Victorian woman,
supported by the investigation of Thomas Hardy's novel 'Tess of the
d'Urbervilles.' On the example of central protagonist I demonstrate the
prospects of women living in 19th century England and come to conclusion
that women were deeply affected by Christian prejudices and rigidity. The
theoretical part is divided into the three chapters. The first one offers
the broad spectrum of information about Victorian standards of living,
covering all aspect of everyday existence. In the second chapter two stages
of Victorian novel are presented. In the Early-Victorian or 'Condition of
England' novel I depicted the authors like Thomas Carlyle and Charles
Dickens, who presented the shortcomings of current society. Next part
provides the aspects of High-Victorian novel with authors motivated by
realism and naturalism and determined to generate the authentic picture of
common life. The third chapter concentrates on Thomas Hardy, his life and
literary achievements till 1895. In the practical part I analyse the
concept of 'purity' and the manipulating factors of the novel's chief
protagonist, Tess Durbeyfield. I sum up the thesis with the causes of such
pressure.
DECLARATION:
___________________________________________________________________________
I declare that I produce this bachelor thesis independently, following the
instructions of PhDr. Pavel Dole?el, Csc. I also provide the complete list
of references. I confirm the authorship by my signature. Brno.............................
__________________________________ Authentic signature ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:
___________________________________________________________________________ I really appreciate the advice and encouragement of PhDr. Pavel Dole?el,
Csc. in compiling this bachelor thesis.
Content
1. INVESTIGATING THE VICTORIANS.................................8
2. STAGES OF VICTORIAN NOVEL.....................................14
1. Early Victorian or 'Condition of England' novel.................14
2. High Victorian
novel....................................................22
3. THOMAS
HARDY.........................................................31
1. The life of Thomas
Hardy.............................................31
2. The general literary environment of Thomas Hardy............39
3. The specific literary achievement of Thomas Hardy till
1895..................................................................
.....41
4. TESS OF THE D'URBERVILLES-SEARCHING FOR THE CONCEPT OF
'PURITY'...............................................47
5.
CONCLUSION............................................................62
6.
REFERENCES............................................................64
7. COLOUR SUPPLEMENT..............................................70 1. INVESTIGATING THE VICTORIANS
American writer Ralph Waldo Emerson visited England in 1847 remarking: "The
modern world is theirs. They have made and make it day by day." Thackeray
recognised the 19th century as 'the Age of Steam, with culture still in
transition, accompanying with the modern scientific revolution but
reluctant to surrender the values of the past.' 'Victorianism' represented
moral attributes like duty, earnestness, hard work and respectable
behaviour, representative were generally self-conscious, energetic,
knowledgeable and racially superior, with a mission to gain supremacy over
the world. England successfully escaped the continental revolutions of 1848
by a reform of Parliament. As a workshop of the world, it became a
prototype of industrialization for the remaining world, thus securing the
role of a pioneer of industrialization.
Victorian manufacturing crafts were presented at the Great Exhibition of
1851 at Hyde Part, promoted by Prince Albert, who trusted in the
advancement of science. Crystal Palace, made of glass and iron, was
recognised as an amazing engineering monument itself. Up-to-date
technology, such as photographic equipment, cigarette-making machines and
microscopes symbolized 'England's arms of conquest...the trophies of her
bloodless war.' Over 6 million people visited this occasion; 'shilling a
day' entry enabled even working-class and country folk to attend this
celebration of nation's creativity, thus encouraging patriotism.
The National Gallery with its Trafalgar Square location, generous opening
hours and free entrance ensured the access for everyone, not just the
privileged. Promoting arts was considered as a way for nation to discover
its cultural inheritance. Art was supposed to be thought-provoking and, as
the important communication canal, it often mocked the squalor, hypocrisy
and other shortcomings of society. Victorians have passion for the Orient.
India, China or Japan influenced furnishing, painting and even the light
opera 'The Mikado.' Orient, stuffed with eroticism and primitivism, was
supposed to be inferior.
The fee-based lending or 'circulating' library, starting with Mudie,
improved the access to literature while promoting the reading as a
favourite leisure activity. Heavily advertised books became quickly
'bestsellers,' on the other hand Mudie, to maintain subscribers'
respectability, banned Meredith's 'The Ordeal of Richard Faverel' because
of dealing with controversial topics. Sexual conduct, cross-class
relationships or atheism were taboo. Victorian obsession with individualism
resulted in guidebooks, offering practical advice on self-development.
Literate public increased throughout the 19th century, resulting in the
splitting of audience into "highbrows," "lowbrows" and "middlebrows."
Tourism, including Cook's railway excursions to beaches and Continental
trips, belonged to favourite leisure activities of middle-class
vacationers. 'English weekend' represented time spent outside. Music-halls,
open-air concerts or balloon ascents satisfied the pleasure-seekers. Team
sports, such as soccer, gained standardized rules accompanied by the record-
keeping. Improvement in living standards unexpectedly caused the reduction
in birth rate, achieved partly by sexual abstinence but also by the use of
birth control devices, widely available since the vulcanization of rubber
in the 1840's.
Christian belief emphasised duty, self-sacrifice and sexual decorum.
'Innocent angel' dedicated to family is the ideal woman. People saw
suffering as God's will and religion as 'a state of heart.' Those who
opposed to it, tried to be good 'for good's sake, not God's.' Evangelicals
acted as missionaries in