Canadian Lit Research

[rbursell]

My research topic:

"Women play a large role in many of the novels we are studying either by virtue of their status as central characters or as authors. Carefully examine this particular characteristic of Canadian novels in terms of what may be the reasons for it as well as how it has helped fashion the nature of Canadian fiction."

The only problem is we have only studied 3 novels...As for me and my House - Sinclair Ross, The Mountain and the Valley - Buckler, and Cat's Eye - Atwood. So, it will be difficult for me to comment much on Canadian women authors as there is only one author who is a woman.

I have decided to focus on Mrs. Bentley (As for me and my House) and Elaine Risley (Cat's Eye) the protaganists of both novels. But, I need a hypothesis...

The resonating theme of Cdn Lit. in the pioneer prairie times (pre-WWII during the Great Depression) (drought) (dust bowl) (As for me and my House) and the period from WWII to the late 1980's (Cat's Eye) (Elaine as adult flashes back to her childhood) are similiar in both novels....victimization, survival, self-realization...and reality vs fantasy/dreaming/escape.

Also, there is an artist role in both novels - as Mrs. Bentley (As for me and my House) dreamed of being a artist (musician) as did her husband who wanted to be a painter or writer - niether successful - although both used there talents to escape their mundane lives.

While Elaine (Cat's Eye) became a successful artist whose art was inspired images of her painful childhood (bullied by her friends).

But, of course my focus is on the women protaganists and their role in Cdn Fiction...

o.k. so, hypothesis/title...The Self-realization of Canadian Literary Protagonists - Mrs. Bentley and Elaine Risley.

What do you think???? Criticism appreciated

[JBI]

Hmm, I think you are misreading, or perhaps misguided, as though relevant, having read all three books, I can tell you, first read Frye's The Bush Garden, and Atwood's Survival, and that will get you into the grove, then there is a great book of essays on reactions to As For me and My House which you will definitely find enlightening.

Ross's text is fundamental in establishing the thematic identity that critics like Atwood and Frye would find central to the tradition, and Atwood herself is writing out of her own theory of English literature. It would make sense to understand that context, and realize what is going on. As for Mrs. Bentley, she is a rather tricky and backward character that is infinitely complex given the ambiguity and unreliability she displays throughout the text.

Something I would approach the texts with,

The trauma of wilderness, art and delimitation in Canadian Literature,

Or something like that.

Generally, I just worry that Atwood doesn't work as well with that text, being of the next generation of Canadian writers. It seems to reflect on the old authors, rather than continue a natural sort of tradition.