Light and darkness: the development of Ethel Wilson's protagonists

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dc.contributor.advisorDahlie, Hallvard
dc.contributor.authorBaxter, Karen, 1957-
dc.date.accessioned2005-07-21T20:37:41Z
dc.date.available2005-07-21T20:37:41Z
dc.date.issued1984
dc.descriptionBibliography: p. 143-148.en
dc.description.abstractThe proliferation of light and dark descriptions in the novels and short stories of Ethel Wilson suggests their extreme importance to her purpose . On closer examination, we find these images closely connected to the development of almost all of her characters. Mrs . Wilson combines her keen interest in the quality of human experience with her belief that no person stands alone in life and that everyone has his or her own particular place within humanity. To illustrate this point of view, she employs shades of light and dark, for she believes as strongly in their purpose as she does in mankind. The suggestion is that life is a personal journey with both shadows and light, doubt and happiness. Mutations of light have the ability to tr a nsform that which is viewed and the manner in which anything - an object or a person - is perceived is simply a matter of falling light. When shadows are thrown on a subject, they prevent clarity of vision, so what is seen may actually be a false impression. An individual who experiences this darkness must get beyond this barrier i n order to progress in life. In Wilson's fiction, darkness is generally equated with ignorance or innocence. She develops her characters through the obstacles created by darkness to a point where they are prepared to accept knowledge. With this method, Wilson demonstrates that all existence is a combination of blotting-out and illumination. We must get beyond the moments of darkness and blotting-out to the moments of enlightenment and self-awareness, where our path through life lies clear. In using this technique, Wilson offers hope that it is within our ability to reach a point of self-discovery in which we know and understand ourselves, our goals and our world.
dc.description.notesThis title is not available online. Access options are: - consulting the copy from Archives in our reading room in person - https://asc.ucalgary.ca/visiting/ - borrowing a circulating copy from the Library catalogue – https://ucalgary.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/search?vid=01UCALG_INST:UCALGARY&lang=en
dc.format.extentvi, 148 leaves ; 30 cm.en
dc.identifier.citationBaxter, K. (1984). Light and darkness: the development of Ethel Wilson's protagonists (Master's thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca. doi:10.11575/PRISM/19337en_US
dc.identifier.doihttp://dx.doi.org/10.11575/PRISM/19337
dc.identifier.isbn0315223049en
dc.identifier.lccPS 8545 I29 Z57 1986en
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/1880/22936
dc.language.isoeng
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Calgaryen
dc.publisher.placeCalgaryen
dc.rightsUniversity of Calgary graduate students retain copyright ownership and moral rights for their thesis. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission.
dc.subject.lccPS 8545 I29 Z57 1986en
dc.subject.lcshWilson, Ethel Davis, 1888-1980
dc.subject.lcshLight and darkness in literature
dc.titleLight and darkness: the development of Ethel Wilson's protagonists
dc.typemaster thesis
thesis.degree.disciplineEnglish
thesis.degree.grantorUniversity of Calgary
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Arts (MA)
ucalgary.thesis.accessionTheses Collection 58.002:Box 500 215772103
ucalgary.thesis.notesoffsiteen
ucalgary.thesis.uarcreleasenoen
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