Female metaphysical rebellion in the works of George Eliot and Nathaniel Hawthorne.
Item
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Title
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Female metaphysical rebellion in the works of George Eliot and Nathaniel Hawthorne.
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Identifier
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AAI9530899
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identifier
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9530899
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Creator
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Lombardi, Linda C.
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Contributor
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Adviser: Felicia Bonaparte
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Date
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1995
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Language
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English
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Publisher
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City University of New York.
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Subject
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Literature, Comparative | Philosophy | Women's Studies | Literature, American | Literature, English
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Abstract
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Eliot and Hawthorne share many similarities. They deal with similar subjects, such as the need for societal reform and humankind's desire for transcendent truth. They address similar problems, like the individual's need to create a unique identity for him/herself while, simultaneously, coexisting as a member of his/her community. The role, purpose and effect of personal and group conduct, of morality, are explored throughout their novels, short stories and poems. Specifically, they are interested in the relationship between the moral codes of conduct and gender. As they see it, humankind has developed a society around separate moral codes for each gender. The special codes imposed on women prevent them from acting, speaking and living as they so desire. They prevent them from enjoying full personhood. Female metaphysical rebellion arises as a result of this inequality and out of a disquiet of the female spirit. Female metaphysical rebels must first violate mankind's moral laws before they can achieve freedoms that are automatically granted to men as a privilege of their gender. After they violate these moral laws, they may then join with all of humanity and move through the other stages of metaphysical rebellion, namely isolation, disintegration and reintegration. The goal of metaphysical rebellion is to ascend beyond the mortal world in order to gain truths about it. Chapter One explores the similarities between Eliot and Hawthorne and discusses nineteenth century social conditions in England and America. Chapter Two examines and defines metaphysical rebellion in the context of humankind's need for transcendent truth. Chapter Three discusses Eliot and Hawthorne's male rebels. Chapter Four evaluates the role of boundaries and the specific limitations imposed on females. Chapter Five analyzes females who arrogate men's rights and privileges to themselves. Chapter Six considers the motivations for female metaphysical rebellion. Chapter Seven analyzes the relationship between women and nature. Chapter Eight examines women and words. Chapter Nine discusses the special role of the artist. The dissertation concludes with Chapter Ten which explores the ultimate goals of female metaphysical rebellion, namely the movement beyond gender and mortality as preliminary steps toward the attainment of transcendent truth.
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Type
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dissertation
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Source
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PQT Legacy CUNY.xlsx
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degree
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Ph.D.
