The Quest for Anonymity: The Novels of George EliotIn a new treatment of Eliot's booklength fiction, Alley argues that from the very moment she adopted a male pseudonym through to the major epic and tragic novels of her later life, the transcendence of fame was her major consideration. Focusing on one novel in each chapter, the study shows how the plights of Eliot's heroines and heroes do not end in frustration but in an affirmation of anonymous achievement, "the growing good of the world." For Eliot, heroism emerges through disclosure, rather than grandly executed action, and since the revelation requires discerning effort on the part of those watching, both observer and observed are celebrated. |
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Page 33
... narrator shows her the road to redemption , through the highly formed experience of the hero and the narrator . Tellingly , the invocation of a " well - wadded " reader anticipates chapter 17 of Adam Bede , where the narrator again ...
... narrator shows her the road to redemption , through the highly formed experience of the hero and the narrator . Tellingly , the invocation of a " well - wadded " reader anticipates chapter 17 of Adam Bede , where the narrator again ...
Page 41
... narrator as well— presences who are quietly observing , recognizing someone who is also heroic but is still beneath the notice of the outer world . Mimesis , for Eliot , is visualization , and in her famous chapter on art in Adam Bede ...
... narrator as well— presences who are quietly observing , recognizing someone who is also heroic but is still beneath the notice of the outer world . Mimesis , for Eliot , is visualization , and in her famous chapter on art in Adam Bede ...
Page 66
... narrator's more orga- nized presence in The Mill on the Floss , with Graham Martin speaking of an " Intourist Guide " ( Smith , 37 ) and Carl Malmgren speaking of one who is " perceptive and loquacious , " who serves as both " guide and ...
... narrator's more orga- nized presence in The Mill on the Floss , with Graham Martin speaking of an " Intourist Guide " ( Smith , 37 ) and Carl Malmgren speaking of one who is " perceptive and loquacious , " who serves as both " guide and ...
Contents
Acknowledgments | 9 |
Scenes of Clerical Life and the Art of Indirect | 27 |
Heroic Perception in Adam Bede | 40 |
Copyright | |
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achieve acknowledge action Adam Adam Bede Aeschylus allusion anonymous heroism apparent artist balance becomes begins better called Casaubon chapter character clear close comes complete context continuity create critics Daniel Deronda death develop Dorothea earlier early effect Esther example experience fact father feeling Felix female fiction final Floss frequently George Eliot given gives Greek tragedy growing Gwendolen hand hero heroic human ideal imagination important Irwine later learned light living look Lydgate Maggie male means memory Middlemarch Mill mind moral narrative narrator nature never novel offers once past perceive perhaps present Press reader reading represents role Romola scene seems seen sense serves shows Silas Silas Marner soul speaks spirit story suffering suggest sympathy things thought tion tragedy true turn University vision voice whole woman writes