ENGL 2217

Honors GREAT BOOKS II

Dr. Bolton

Spring 2001

 

Topics for Paper #1

Due: Wednesday, 2/14

 

1.) The European Enlightenment (1660-1789) is generally regarded as a period in which a faith in reason prevailed, for reason was the faculty that separated humankind from the realm of animals. When usefully applied, reason would steer one through the multiple follies of society and pitfalls of vice and lead one to truth and, quite possibly, a virtuous life. To varying degrees, the literature of the Enlightenment (which survives well into Jane Austen's time as well) reflects these values. How do Moliere and/or Austen treat the subjects of love and reason? Does reason appear even to exist in characters and can people be led to truth? Are there other human capacities, such as sensibility (feeling) or intuition and imagination that also lead to wisdom?

 

2.) The plays of Moliere and the novels of Jane Austen, though produced in different national and historical contexts, both use satire to ridicule or criticize the customs of their age. What are some of the social customs, manners, courtship rituals, class distinctions, etc that they choose to focus on and how do they represent them in their works? (Obviously, you don't have to deal with all of these issues. Focus on one or more.)

On what basis, for example, are marriages formed? What role does the father play and what choices do women have when it comes to marriage? How do love and money figure into such matches? Can't a couple simply fall in love, get married, and receive their family's blessing?

 

 

Moliere’s Tartuffe: What does the play suggest regarding...

--issue of relationship between Love and Reason, Love & Virtue, or both.

--The Ideal of Christian Behavior (vengeance vs. forgiveness, piety and reason, ends justifying the means, the proper means for a woman to repell an unwanted lover, etc.).

--How does Moliere’s Comedy encourage moral behavior (or discourage it)

--Voices of Reason: A Close Look at Cleante and Dorine (one or both)

--Secrets and Eavesdropping in Tartuffe (why so much deceit? Good or bad?)

--Orgon and Madame Pernelle" Moliere’s Fools

--The Character of Tartuffe: Moliere’s Portrait of a Religious Hypocrite (you could talk about religious hypocrisy in the play in comparison to events of recent years)

 

The Misanthrope: Your view of Alceste--are we meant to share his anti-human views. Should we admire his sincerity? How does love figure into all this--can one be misanthropic and still be in love? Why is the match between Philinte and Elainte either satisfying or unsatisfying? Does their alliance undermine the views taken by Alceste? The character of Celimene and marriage prospects (she's 20 and having the time of her life vs. future).

 

 

Pride and Prejudice: Examine the theme of pride: what is it, how does it work, why is everyone so full of it, how does it effect human relations, how does it relate to prejudice?

--Comic effects: examine Austen's satirical methods, how certain human behavior is easily made fun of, her use of wit and irony, etc.

--women's issues: the life of women in the late 18th and early 19th century, their opportunities, the need for accomplishment, their access to power or lack of power, notions of feminine beauty and attraction, notions of male beauty and eligibility etc.

--Religion and the clergy: is Collins representative of the clergy and its relation to the aristocracy?