The following analysis discusses how 1890s Ireland is represented in Stoker's novel The Snake's Pass. The introduction gives a glimpse on the general key themes of the novel. Chapter 1 presents the plot and the characters of the story in a detailed way. The adventure of Arthur Severn, a young British man traveling the west of Ireland and discovering the beauty of the Irish landscapes and the hospitality of its inhabitants. Chapter 2 describes the Gothic literary movement, starting from its definition and proceeding with the analysis of its sub-genres and the description of the common features that render a text predominantly Gothic, such as a setting in the distant past, the uncanny, the Other, the sublime, the supernatural. Chapter 3 displays the first instances of Gothic literature both in England and Ireland. My analysis takes into account the main gothic novels from 1760s to 1860s, as this was the time lapse that provided Stoker of the Gothic tradition from which he drew upon his fiction, as well as the period in which he lived. Chapter 4 shows the elements that characterise the novel as Gothic. There are many instances in the novel such as the initial dark setting of the novel, where the approaching storm that makes Arthur trembling and shaking, the symbolic nightmare of the hill full of snake that haunts Arthur by night, the ever-changing bog which endangers the lives and businesses of the people on the hill, the evil character of Black Murdock – a stereotyped representation of moral corruption. But also the fact that this monstrosity is symbolised by the snake, a recurrent symbol of evil in gothic literature. Chapter 5 demonstrates how the novel shares many features with the literary genre of the adventure/imperial romance. Chapter 6 analyses two key features of the Irish environment and culture: bogs and folklore. Bogs are a scientific venue – characterised by its almost lack of life – but also an historical place, gathering artifacts from different centuries – from the Iron Age to the 18th century. Folklore on the other hand is the ensemble of national tales which have been passed on orally during the centuries and are used – even in the novel – to explain the supernatural, or even better, what is inexplicable according to the dwellers of the little village by the Snake's Pass. Chapter 7 illustrates the main historical, political and social events of 19th-century Ireland. From the Act of Union in 1800, which unified Ireland with Great Britain, to the subsequent rise of nationalists movements – such as the Young Ireland – to the devastating plague of 1847 which affected potatoes crops and led to many deaths and increased the emigration of Irish towards Europe and North America. Chapter 8 provides a detailed account of Bram Stoker's life and his relationship with Great Britain and Ireland. I describe Stoker’s life, first by his personal data, in order to possibly define his conception about national identity, politics, economy, and life in general. Chapter 9 reflects upon Stoker's political views: British colonialism and Irish independence. The author shared both of the sides as he was Irish by birth but spent most of his life in Great Britain: his interest for Ireland led him to rediscover his native land – while working for the British government – and its ancient tradition – folklore. The author was in favour of a compromise as a solution to political and economic difficulties of Ireland. This research demonstrates how vividly and genuinely Stoker represented his native country, Ireland, through the events of the story, giving a complete and exhaustive depiction of the land of green.
La seguente analisi discute come l'Irlanda del 1890 sia rappresentata nel romanzo di Stoker The Snake's Pass. L'introduzione presenta i temi chiave generali del romanzo. Il capitolo 1 presenta la trama e i personaggi della storia in modo dettagliato. Il capitolo 2 descrive il movimento letterario gotico, partendo dalla sua definizione e procedendo con l'analisi dei suoi sottogeneri e la descrizione dei tratti comuni che rendono un testo prevalentemente gotico, come l'ambientazione in un lontano passato, il perturbante, l'Altro , il sublime, il soprannaturale. Il capitolo 3 mostra i primi esempi di letteratura gotica sia in Inghilterra che in Irlanda. La mia analisi prende in considerazione i principali romanzi gotici dal 1760 al 1860, poiché questo fu l'intervallo di tempo che fornì a Stoker la tradizione gotica da cui trasse ispirazione per la sua narrativa, così come il periodo in cui visse. Il capitolo 4 mostra gli elementi che caratterizzano il romanzo come gotico. Ci sono molti esempi nel romanzo, come l'ambientazione oscura iniziale del romanzo, in cui la tempesta in arrivo che fa spaventare Arthur, l'incubo simbolico della collina piena di serpenti che perseguita Arthur di notte, la palude in continua evoluzione che mette in pericolo le vite e le imprese delle persone sulla collina, il personaggio malvagio di Black Murdock - una rappresentazione stereotipata della corruzione morale. Ma anche il fatto che questa mostruosità sia simboleggiata dal serpente, simbolo ricorrente del male nella letteratura gotica. Il capitolo 5 dimostra come il romanzo condivida molte caratteristiche con il genere letterario dell'adventure/imperial romance. Il capitolo 6 analizza due caratteristiche chiave dell'ambiente e della cultura irlandese: le paludi e il folklore. Le torbiere sono un luogo scientifico – caratterizzato dalla sua quasi mancanza di vita – ma anche un luogo storico, che raccoglie reperti di secoli diversi – dall’età del ferro al XVIII secolo. Il folklore è invece l'insieme dei racconti nazionali che si sono tramandati oralmente nel corso dei secoli e che vengono utilizzati – anche nel romanzo – per spiegare il soprannaturale, o meglio ancora l'inspiegabile secondo gli abitanti del piccolo villaggio di il Passo del Serpente. Il capitolo 7 illustra i principali eventi storici, politici e sociali dell'Irlanda del XIX secolo. Dall’Atto di Unione del 1800, che unificò l’Irlanda alla Gran Bretagna, alla successiva ascesa dei movimenti nazionalisti – come il movimento Young Ireland – fino alla devastante malattia del 1847 che colpì i raccolti di patate provocando molte morti e aumentando l’emigrazione degli irlandesi. verso l’Europa e il Nord America. Il capitolo 8 fornisce un resoconto dettagliato della vita di Bram Stoker e del suo rapporto con la Gran Bretagna e l'Irlanda. In particolare descrivo la vita di Stoker, prima attraverso i suoi dati personali, per definire possibilmente la sua concezione dell'identità nazionale, della politica, dell'economia e della vita in generale. Il capitolo 9 riflette sulle opinioni politiche di Stoker: colonialismo britannico e indipendenza irlandese. L'autore era legato ad entrambe le parti in lotta, in quanto era irlandese di nascita ma trascorse gran parte della sua vita in Gran Bretagna: il suo interesse per l'Irlanda lo portò a riscoprire la sua terra natale – mentre lavorava per il governo britannico – e la sua antica tradizione – il folklore. L'autore era a favore di un compromesso come soluzione alle difficoltà politiche ed economiche dell'Irlanda. Questa ricerca dimostra quanto Stoker abbia rappresentato in modo vivido e genuino il suo paese natale, l'Irlanda, attraverso gli eventi del racconto, fornendo una rappresentazione completa ed esaustiva della land of green.
IN THE LAND OF GREEN : L'IRLANDA NEGLI OCCHI DI BRAM STOKER
FARAVELLI, MASSIMILIANO
2022/2023
Abstract
The following analysis discusses how 1890s Ireland is represented in Stoker's novel The Snake's Pass. The introduction gives a glimpse on the general key themes of the novel. Chapter 1 presents the plot and the characters of the story in a detailed way. The adventure of Arthur Severn, a young British man traveling the west of Ireland and discovering the beauty of the Irish landscapes and the hospitality of its inhabitants. Chapter 2 describes the Gothic literary movement, starting from its definition and proceeding with the analysis of its sub-genres and the description of the common features that render a text predominantly Gothic, such as a setting in the distant past, the uncanny, the Other, the sublime, the supernatural. Chapter 3 displays the first instances of Gothic literature both in England and Ireland. My analysis takes into account the main gothic novels from 1760s to 1860s, as this was the time lapse that provided Stoker of the Gothic tradition from which he drew upon his fiction, as well as the period in which he lived. Chapter 4 shows the elements that characterise the novel as Gothic. There are many instances in the novel such as the initial dark setting of the novel, where the approaching storm that makes Arthur trembling and shaking, the symbolic nightmare of the hill full of snake that haunts Arthur by night, the ever-changing bog which endangers the lives and businesses of the people on the hill, the evil character of Black Murdock – a stereotyped representation of moral corruption. But also the fact that this monstrosity is symbolised by the snake, a recurrent symbol of evil in gothic literature. Chapter 5 demonstrates how the novel shares many features with the literary genre of the adventure/imperial romance. Chapter 6 analyses two key features of the Irish environment and culture: bogs and folklore. Bogs are a scientific venue – characterised by its almost lack of life – but also an historical place, gathering artifacts from different centuries – from the Iron Age to the 18th century. Folklore on the other hand is the ensemble of national tales which have been passed on orally during the centuries and are used – even in the novel – to explain the supernatural, or even better, what is inexplicable according to the dwellers of the little village by the Snake's Pass. Chapter 7 illustrates the main historical, political and social events of 19th-century Ireland. From the Act of Union in 1800, which unified Ireland with Great Britain, to the subsequent rise of nationalists movements – such as the Young Ireland – to the devastating plague of 1847 which affected potatoes crops and led to many deaths and increased the emigration of Irish towards Europe and North America. Chapter 8 provides a detailed account of Bram Stoker's life and his relationship with Great Britain and Ireland. I describe Stoker’s life, first by his personal data, in order to possibly define his conception about national identity, politics, economy, and life in general. Chapter 9 reflects upon Stoker's political views: British colonialism and Irish independence. The author shared both of the sides as he was Irish by birth but spent most of his life in Great Britain: his interest for Ireland led him to rediscover his native land – while working for the British government – and its ancient tradition – folklore. The author was in favour of a compromise as a solution to political and economic difficulties of Ireland. This research demonstrates how vividly and genuinely Stoker represented his native country, Ireland, through the events of the story, giving a complete and exhaustive depiction of the land of green.È consentito all'utente scaricare e condividere i documenti disponibili a testo pieno in UNITESI UNIPV nel rispetto della licenza Creative Commons del tipo CC BY NC ND.
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https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14239/3800