Essay
Essay Prep Literature in Crisis
- Module
- Literature in Crisis
- Institution
- Royal Holloway University Of London
This document features practice example essay paragraphs for the module, on the text The Moonstone.
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The Age of Enlightenment and Imperialism, from the 17th century to the19th century included a range of ideas centred around reason and
evidence. The movement was expanded intellectual, philosophical,
cultural and social theories predominantly through England, France,
Germany and other parts of Europe, from the start of the 17 th century.
This age was crucial to literature as it is thought that through the
Enlightenment period that human reasoning began to discover truths
about the world, religion and politics, and that this newfound truth could
be used to improve humankind.
The theme of British Imperialism within The Moonstone is a great
example of work produced from this age. The novel focuses upon a stolen
diamond and its attempted recovery upon reaching England. The origin
of the diamond, India, is never visited throughout the novel, yet the
Indian influence throughout the novel is prominent in conveying
sympathy for the Indian victims of British Imperialism, as seen through
the three Indian characters of the novel. The Moonstone’s theft and
return act as an extended metaphor throughout the novel for the effect
the British imperialism had upon India during Victorian England.
Therefore, by this the Moonstone becomes a symbol throughout the novel
of the plunder of British Imperialism upon India, and the stress upon
culture that imperialism caused. The idea of imperialism throughout
this novel helps to record the attitudes of imperialism and the attitudes
caused by imperialism, this idea is evident throughout this novel in the
fight for the diamond, eluding to the fight for cultural heritage that was
evident throughout imperialism.
Alternatively, within Silas Marner Eliot explores the theme of
enlightenment through Silas. Eliot throughout the novel creates moments
where the mid-Victorian culture of enlightenment become evident. The
entire chapter before Silas accuses Jem Rodney, issues of the time can be
seen throughout the dialogue of the pub dwellers. Questions of evidence
and experience are raised, which directly correlate to the rise of
enlightenment within the period. Moreover, with images of the Lantern
Yard, industrialisation is also clear within the novel. Through Eliot using
more subtle references to the enlightenment of the Victorian period, the
reader is forced to follow the development of understanding towards the
enlightenment, of characters and potentially even the readers of the
time.
Throughout this age it is therefore evident that there were colossal
changes socially, politically and physically to countries. Enlightenment
helped to implement new understanding, and imperialism conveyed a
new age of power and influence across countries. Therefore, throughout
this age a new genre of literature evidently became apparent, recording
the changes to the world that took place during this age, which
essentially can be seen in both Silas Marner and The Moonstone. Whilst
these ideas were mainly spread to the upper classes, there was still a
new development in literature and a change in thought that provoked
new narratives and plots unique to this age, and not explored before.
This age is evidently one that thus, revolutionised literature to the point
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