The Politics of fiction: social realism in English Canadian novels (1920-55)
Date
1989
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Abstract
This thesis examines how realism as a literary theory and socialism as a political theory shape the artistic theory, craftsmanship, moral sensibility, and political ideology of eight important English-Canadian writers. The Introduction, drawing on the aesthetic views of Karl Marx and his followers, spells out the methodology as being both Marxist and traditionally literary. Chapter Two highlights several significant socio-economic, political, and intellectual events from the 1920's to the mid-SO's; it relates them to the social realists' thematic concerns, language, imagery, and ideology, all of which are further explored by looking at the writers' own theory of social realism in the third chapter. The literary practice of these writers is thus viewed as conscious or conscientious, as guided by certain shared literary tenets and socio-political beliefs.
Chapter Four commences the process of scrutinizing specific social realist novels in pairs. Particularly, it focuses on two prairie writers who shift from rural to urban realism. Douglas Durkin is treated as the first modern writer to approach socialist ideology; and Sinclair Ross, as a pioneer in presenting conflicts relating to social and economic situations. The chapter also puts forth the view that there exist two contrasting, if not contradicting, traditions of political commitment--the liberal and the socialist.
Chapter Five compares Morley Callaghan and Hugh Garner in terms of social realism in the urban setting. Its emÂphasis is on the means by which the "ordinariness" of charÂacters and situation is rendered interesting and convincing; and on the ambivalent or transparent ways of treating the socialist ideal.
Chapter Six shows some parallel developments in Irene Baird's and Earle Birney's novels: the integration of the individual into a larger social unit, the conversion from a non-political being to a political activist, or to a revoluÂtionary. The sense of class and class struggle is considered to be crucial and is given full treatment.
Chapter Seven draws an analogy between Frederick Philip Grove and Dyson Carter in their skillful representation of the complex economic and industrial subject and realistic depiction of the socialist or socialist-minded characters; emphasis is also put on such female protagonists. In addiÂtion, it delves into the Marxist sense of alienation under capitalism and shows this concept at work.
The Conclusion recapitulates both the literary traits and the ideas and arguments developed previously and conÂtrasts social realism with Socialist Realism. Further, it stresses the fine qualities which make social realist writÂing intriguing, enduring, and worth studying.
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Bibliography: p. 321-332
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Chen, Z. (1989). The Politics of fiction: social realism in English Canadian novels (1920-55) (Doctoral thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca. doi:10.11575/PRISM/18194