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Death and character: Readings in select Victorian novels
Abstract
I have chosen six major Victorian novels in order to prove that each writer uses death to develop the characterization of the protagonist. The deaths, literal or metaphoric, affect and reveal the character's evolving personality. The protagonist usually represents a large part of his society. Consequently, the society is illustrated by means of and in relation to death. If the protagonist is not representative of his society, this fact proves as telling. These portrayals of character and illustrations of societies relate philosophies that ground themselves in death and address the event of death itself. Chapter 1 explores Heathcliff from Emily Bronte's Wuthering Heights who manifests a self influenced by death and a hostile world. Ultimately one trancends this world through death and achieves liberty. Chapter 2 considers Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre. Jane's encounters with death assist her in maturity. Death enables those like Jane to fear death less and to affirm life more. Chapter 3 investigates those deaths that affect David Copperfield from Charles Dickens's novel. These deaths help David gain a disciplined heart and accept the eventuality of his own death. Chapter 4 examines Margaret Hale from Elizabeth Gaskell's North and South. Death helps Margaret accept transition, which leads to reconciliation for individuals like herself as well as for England's social classes. Chapter 5 studies Maggie Tulliver of George Eliot's The Mill on the Floss. Death provokes Maggie's contrary and altruistic nature while it underscores the materialistic and unspiritual society of St. Ogg's. Chapter 6 analyzes Jude from Thomas Hardy's Jude the Obscure. Death acts as catalyst for the negative change in his personality while death emphasizes the indifference of his world. Death works as a microscope that magnifies, examines, and comprehends the character's personality. Death gives significance to each character's life and to his society. Those novels written in the earlier Victorian period share the idea of life as challenging but worthwhile. Death is most relevant and transitory. The two later novels portray life as filled with insurmountable obstacles and as terminal. Despite the broad differences in their philosophies, these Victorians perceive life, paradoxially, by means of death.
Subject Area
British and Irish literature
Recommended Citation
Duni, Michael T, "Death and character: Readings in select Victorian novels" (1991). Doctoral Dissertations Available from Proquest. AAI9207390.
https://scholarworks.umass.edu/dissertations/AAI9207390