mercoledì 20 settembre 2023 english notes .. - The middle class learnt good manners from the aristocracy, which in turn was being modified by the strong Puritan morality of the middle class. • This process “" a new social class refined but sober in its customs • The middle class learnt how to behave thanks to newspapers and magazines and clubs and coffeehouse became important places to discuss of current events and to write about them. … Robinson Crusoe had a strong influence in the developing of the genre. It was a great success, running to four editions in eight months. - Robinson Crusoe is considered to be the first modern novel, since for the first time we have a fictions narrative that the author tries to pass off as true - The story is told by a first-person narrator • that gives the reader a short profile of Robinson Crusoe’s life • The place are described carefully and time is accounted in a precise manner (since the protagonist even starts writing a diary) Story of the novel - Robinson Crusoe, born in York, decides to go to sea, despite his father's opposition, who wanted him to study law - For several years he’s a merchant and a sailor and leads an adventurous life • (captive by Moors, planter in Brazil, salve trader) - But during one of his voyages he’s shipwrecked on a desert island (south America, Orinoco river) and he’s the only survivor. • But thanks to his strength and intelligence he manages to build himself a house with some forniture; he learns how to cultivate and how to go hunting. • He also keeps a diary of his life and has a Bible which he reads everyday. 1 mercoledì 20 settembre 2023 - During a trip to the opposite side of the island he comes across a group of natives (who are about to kill one of their number), using his gun he frightens them and he rescues the prisoner. He decides to call him Friday as it was on Friday that he saved him - … Robinson’s Account of his conditions after the shipwreck - After being shipwrecked on a desert island Robinson considers his situation by writing down the cons and the pros what it has just happened • Among the first there is the facts that he is alone on a desert island, with no cloths to wear or weapons to use • In spite of that Robinson is thankful to be alive and he notices that the ship is near enough the shore to let him pick up what he needs to survive - he’s grateful because of the absence of wild animals and because of the favorable climate - there’s always something to be happy about… - He decides to stop looking for ships, thus he starts building his house Friday Friday has got long straight black hairs. He’s got a large forehead, a small nose, a good mouth, thin lips and fine teeth skin = olive color Friday admits that if the Christian god could ear the prayers beyond the Sun that he’s certainly more powerful that his god (benamuckee). Most brutish and barbarous savages. Richardson Richardson was the first writer to dramatize letter-writing. His epistolary novels combine the urge to write with accurate descriptions and his letters seem to be written in spare of the moment. The dialogues are mostly in direct speech so that to give the impression that the protagonist is writing down his thoughts immediately after an incident has occurred. They are indeed hidden, lost, found, interrupted ecc. 2 mercoledì 20 settembre 2023 Richardson in his novels on the one hand… Sexual violence is always present or latent in Richardson’s stories; but the protagonist’s feelings about their persecutors are not always clear-cut. This ambiguity makes Pamela the first psychological novel written in English. Pamela seems to be affected by the well known Stockholm syndrome, in fact in some portions of the novel she seems to feel an attraction over her persecutor (Mr. B). Story of Pamela Pamela had been the servant girl of the noblewomen Lady B. and after her death Mr B., Lady B.’s son, offers her the opportunity to remain in the household and she accepts. It becomes then clear that Mr B. wants to seduce her. He then gives her the possibility to come back home, but the coachman, who is one of Mr B.’s men, drives her to Mr B.’s country house, where she lives like a prisoner. there she writes a diary like she is talking to her mum Pamela resists to Mr B. advances until they get married. The second part of the book is just a description of their life as a married couple Pamela Refuses Mr. B.’s Advances she writes the letter to her mother Pamela is caught by Mr. B, after coming back from his journey to Lincolnshire, while she is writing a letter. (she hides it in her breast) “non mi saluti?” Mr B. accuses her to have told about the improper sexual advances to Mrs Jarvis, and Pamela defends herself by saying that she only told the truth Mr B. then gets very angry he stands up and he starts walking while Pamela is crying. (Pamela understands that Mr B. has discovered her letters and that she is no longer free to write) mr. B says to Pamela that he will give her a good reason to attack him Then Mr. B offers Pamela to seat on his knees and he tries to kiss her, but Pamela runs into a room, closes the door and faints. (Mrs Jarvis will rescue her, mr b le dice di non dire niente) 3 mercoledì 20 settembre 2023 Gulliver’s travels Gulliver is in the empire of Lilliput and he hopes to get is liberty. Lilliputians gradually come to trust him, they start playing with him and he starts learning their language. dance on his hand and hide-and-seek in his hairs One day the emperor decides to entertain him with magnificent games and Gulliver is mostly impressed by the “rope-dancers” people dancing on a slight thread He points out that ministers and statesman are not chosen for their ability, but according to how they can please the emperor with this trivial games. The narrator specifies, with parenthesis, that this happens frequently due to common murders of people in power. This highlight the thirst for power of Lilliputians. The author is now clearly criticizing the corruption of contemporary politics. Eventually Gulliver makes reference to two of the best rope dancers, this figures are usually associated with influential British politicians of the time. 4
