Thematic use of manifest doubling in selected tales by Henry James

dc.contributor.advisorPhillips, Anne R.
dc.contributor.committeeMemberAllred, John C.
dc.creatorSeamon, Mary Ann
dc.date.accessioned2022-12-13T17:46:28Z
dc.date.available2022-12-13T17:46:28Z
dc.date.issued1975
dc.description.abstractCritics suggest that a search for self carried out by a divided individual is implicit in all of Henry James's work. Of particular interest, then, are ten short stories in which James makes this divided self explicit, tales whose donnee is the manifest double consciousness of a thereby self-haunted protagonist. Deserving of study as a group because they share this overt presentation of the elsewhere latent divided self, the tales are further unified by common themes and motifs. Each tale treats one or both of two of James's recurring concerns: the strong attraction the past exerts on the sensitive individual, and the nature and situation of the artistic personality. Each tale also employs some variant of the ancient motif of the Double. Whether the protagonist is "double" because he is an artist inspired by genius or because his affinity with the past involves the demon of an idee fixe, each seeks to escape the same human limitation: biological mortality. Some retreat into the productivity of the studio; others react to a relic of the past, an item which has survived its creator. In this way they all participate in the "madness of art," the attempt to forge a link with eternity. These tales of manifest double consciousness, which merge several of James's major interests through a common symbol, thus provide a possible key to his entire canon.
dc.description.departmentEnglish, Department of
dc.format.digitalOriginreformatted digital
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdf
dc.identifier.other2052125
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10657/12827
dc.language.isoen
dc.rightsThis item is protected by copyright but is made available here under a claim of fair use (17 U.S.C. Section 107) for non-profit research and educational purposes. Users of this work assume the responsibility for determining copyright status prior to reusing, publishing, or reproducing this item for purposes other than what is allowed by fair use or other copyright exemptions. Any reuse of this item in excess of fair use or other copyright exemptions requires express permission of the copyright holder.
dc.titleThematic use of manifest doubling in selected tales by Henry James
dc.type.dcmiText
dc.type.genreThesis
thesis.degree.collegeCollege of Humanities and Fine Arts
thesis.degree.departmentEnglish, Department of
thesis.degree.disciplineEnglish
thesis.degree.grantorUniversity of Houston
thesis.degree.levelMasters
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Arts

Files

Original bundle

Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Loading...
Thumbnail Image
Name:
Seamon_1975_2052125.pdf
Size:
3.36 MB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format