Middlemarch: Eliot's Spencerian Sociological Study of Provincial Life

<p>Through the novel<em> Middlemarch</em>, George Eliot fulfills the intention of her subtitle and uses sociological theories to conduct <em>A Study of Provincial Life</em>. Eliot's letters, journals, and various essays provide evidence of sociologist Herbert Spencer's influence on her own writings. Spencer's specific opinions and contributions not only strengthen the sociological message of Eliot's novel, but a handful of his ideals shape the narrative voice of her novel. Variations of Spencer's theories are seen in Eliot's "authorial narrator's" comments and observations of the Middlemarch couples. With her narrator, Eliot applies Spencer's theories on "belief" and on the correlation of an individual's worldview to his or her society. Furthermore, Eliot creates an emotionally-based connection between her narrator and her readers which allows her to lead her audience through her sociological study and ensures her authorial narrator's voice provides reliable expertise on the provincial life of Middlemarch.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

M.A.

Level thesis:degree_level

Masters Thesis

Year dc:date.available

2015

Author dc:creator

• McKinney, Kellie Marie

Contributors dc:contributor

• Eleanor McNees, Ph.D.
• Darrin Hicks, Ph.D.
• Rachel Feder

• Eliot
• Narratology
• Psychoanalytics
• Sociology
• Spencer
• Victorian
• Literature in English, British Isles
• Social Psychology

Statement dc:rights

• <p>Copyright is held by the author. User is responsible for all copyright compliance.</p>

Language dc:language

en

Repository record dc:identifier

https://digitalcommons.du.edu/etd/1074

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:digitalcommons.du.edu:etd-2074