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 30
... tion demands , of course , heroism of the reader . If we advance this large paradigm for all of Eliot's book - length fiction and say that it develops with increasing intricacy through- out her life's work , then we might find it ...
... tion demands , of course , heroism of the reader . If we advance this large paradigm for all of Eliot's book - length fiction and say that it develops with increasing intricacy through- out her life's work , then we might find it ...
Page 94
... tion without distortion , criticism without hostility . The same may be said of the second part of the triptych , Savo- narola , who " had the greatness which belongs to a life spent in struggling against powerful wrong " ( 675 ) , and ...
... tion without distortion , criticism without hostility . The same may be said of the second part of the triptych , Savo- narola , who " had the greatness which belongs to a life spent in struggling against powerful wrong " ( 675 ) , and ...
Page 98
... varia- tion , or in complex turns of the psyche themselves , suggesting the changing facets of the diamond , to which Clarissa Dalloway's essence is compared , and to which Gwendolen Harleth's " 98 THE QUEST FOR ANONYMITY.
... varia- tion , or in complex turns of the psyche themselves , suggesting the changing facets of the diamond , to which Clarissa Dalloway's essence is compared , and to which Gwendolen Harleth's " 98 THE QUEST FOR ANONYMITY.
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