George Gissing's Darwinian World: A Study of THE NETHER WORLD, BORN IN EXILE, THE PRIVATE PAPERS OF HENRY RYECROFT

• Main Authors: Lin, Nien-tzu, 凌念慈
• Other Authors: Chen, Ying-huei
• Format: Others
• Language: en_US
• Published: 1995
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/30075320149585031168

碩士 === 國立中山大學 === 外國語文學系 === 83 === This thesis attempts to explore the Darwinian world in George Gissing's novels. It will define Gissing's novelistic position as a Darwinian because in his novels the essence and impact of Darwinism could be clearly traced: the recurrence of Darwinian terminology, the depiction of the interrelation between environment and character, and the dramatization of the idea of competition and progress. The thesis consists of five parts. The Introduction recounts the rise, development, and gist of Darwinism, and briefly introduces Gissing's intellectual background, the style and thematic content in his novels of three periods. Chapter One deals with the interrelationship between environment and character in THE NETHER WORLD. Chapter Two centers on the tragedy of a social-ladder climber in BORN IN EXILE. Chapter Three explores the idea of progress in THE PRIVATE PAPERS OF HENRY RYECROFT. The Conclusion summarizes Darwinian essence in Gissing's novels, and succinctly surveys some contemporary American and Continental writers' response to Darwinism for comparison.