The theme of isolation in the work of Joseph Conrad
department or school: Arts, Faculty of
department or school: English, Department of
data provider: DSpace
degree campus: UBCV
creator: McConnell, Ruth E.
issued: 2012-04-19T23:37:42Z
issued: 1958
related degree: Master of Arts - MA
degree grantor: University of British Columbia
description: Central in the work of Joseph Conrad is the theme of isolation, of the loneliness of man and of alienation from one's own kind, a theme which, in some form, dominates the work of many modern writers and thinkers. A study of the criticism of Conrad shows that this preoccupation with the isolated man has always been noticed and was early linked to Conrad's own position in the world as an exile. Recent critics have delved more deeply into the subject, and have shown its relationship to the threatened break-up of society seen in the latter part of the nineteenth century, and have declared Conrad a forerunner of such modern authors, as Gide, Eliot, Kafka, Malraux, among others, in whose work the "exile" of man Is also a central thought. While many critics have touched upon this aspect of Conrad's writings, I have felt that the theme is so central to Conrad's total outlook on life that a fuller analysis of this question was necessary for an adequate appreciation and understanding of his writing. This thesis, then, is an endeavour to explore more fully the theme of isolation in Conrad's books, to try to distinguish the various types of isolation he deals with and their causes, and to link with this central theme the other beliefs—moral, political, and social—disclosed by Conrad in his work. As Conrad says repeatedly that his writing reflects honestly his view of life, and as most of his stories are at least semi-autobiographical, I have begun with Conrad himself, particularly with his early life. To these early years may be traced many of the ideas and emotions which are reflected in his stories and choice of themes. Also central in Conrad's work and closely related to his theme of isolation is his concern with love and friendship, two important ways in which man’s terrible sense of aloneness may be alleviated—though never completely or permanently dispelled. To Conrad man exists not only in relation to other men, but also, in the form of an "idea", to himself, and thus th…
aggregated CHO: https://circle.library.ubc.ca/rest/handle/2429/42121
note: THE THEME OF ISOLATION IN THE WORK OF JOSEPH CONRAD by RUTH E. McCONNELL B.A. University of British Columbia, 1954 A Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfilment of The Requirements for the Degree of M.A. in the Department of ENGLISH We accept this thesis as conforming to the required standard THE UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA April, 1958. ii ABSTRACT' Central in the work of Joseph Conrad is the theme of isolation, of the loneliness of man> arid of alienation from one's own kind, a theme which, in some form, dominates the work of many modern writers and thinkers. A study of the criticism of Conrad shows that this preoccupation with the isolated man has always been noticed and was early linked to Conrad's own position in the world ,as .an exile. Recent critics have delved more deeply into the subject, and have shown its relationship to the threatened break-up of society seen in the latter part of the nineteenth century, and have declared Conrad a forerunner of such modern authors, as G-ide, Eliot, Kafka, Malraux, among: others, in whose work the "exile" of man is. also a central thought. While- many critics have touched .upon this aspe.c.t of C.onrad's writings, I have felt that the theme is so central to Conrad's total outlook on life that a fuller analysis of this question was necessary for' an adequate appreciation and understanding of his writing. This thesis, then, is an endeavour to explore more fully the theme of isolation in C.onrad's books, to try to distinguish the various types of isolation he deals with and their-causes, and to link with this central theme the other beliefs—moral, political, and social—disclosed by Conrad in his work. iii As Conrad says repeatedly that his writing reflects honestly his view of life, and as most of his stories are- at least semi-autobiographical, I have begun with Conrad himself, particularly with his early life. To these- early years may be traced many of the ideas and emotions which are reflected in his stories and choice of …
has type: Thesis/Dissertation
is shown at: 10.14288/1.0107122
language: eng
degree discipline: English
provider: Vancouver : University of British Columbia Library
publisher: University of British Columbia
rights: For non-commercial purposes only, such as research, private study and education. Additional conditions apply, see Terms of Use https://open.library.ubc.ca/terms_of_use.
scholar level: Graduate
type: Text
identifier URI: http://hdl.handle.net/2429/42121