ENGB35H3 Lecture Notes - Lecture 5: Adventure Fiction, Puritans, Israel Hands
Document Summary
Talked up adv story to rivergate men -- seen as properly british and manly genre. Heroes of this realism have no agency --- Notice how this is established at the beginning of the novel. Women not in adv fictions -- if they are, they are there to cause problems. Jim becomes boy hero in a very specific way -- dad dies and left with mother alone (e. g. domestic sphere -- she"s weak and fussy) Jim"s heroism established when he defends his mother. She is braver than they are -- dares to go back -- huge contrast with rc. Here disobedience is framed as protecting your mother. Manliness - child lit story avenue for boy hero to prove himself. Manliness is something you can achieve if you act in a culturally appropriate way. Manliness is entirely contingent on how you react in a specific circumstance -- something to be aspired to, achieve to.
