This essay focuses on two modern literary works by E.M. FORSTER and George
ORWELL. While FORSTER’s fourth published novel Howards End was already
written in the early twentieth century (1910), ORWELL’s famous dystopia
Nineteen Eighty-Four was only published in 1949 and may therefore be
considered as a late modern work.
The historical background of the two novels obviously differs to a great
extent. On the edge of the First World War, E.M. FORSTER was particularly
concerned with a disrupted society under the direct influence of the significant
changes in modern social life. The increasing forces of imperialism and
capitalism and tendencies of a growing urbanisation largely changed the lives of
people, directly affecting their private and public spheres. When ORWELL wrote
his novel under the influence of the Second World War, modern life had
additionally been shaken up by two world wars and the effects of totalitarian
systems in Europe.
Despite the historical gulf between Orwell and Forster, which makes a
direct comparison of their works impossible, this paper will concentrate on the
private and public values of the novels’ characters and thus also pay attention
to probable political notions of the authors. It will particularly figure out if the two
writers either endorse or contest a dividing line between private and public
values, additionally taking into consideration formal features as well as the
overall plot.
Forster’s novel Howards End predominantly deals with the interrelations
of two middle class families called the Schlegels and the Wilcoxes. Despite
belonging to the same class, their actual social background differs to a great
extent. Margaret and Helen Schlegel are initially depicted as not being English
“to the backbone”, which is not only true because of their German origins, but
also because of their idealist attitude they seem to have adopted from their
father, who rather was “the countryman of Hegel and Kant, […] the idealist,
inclined to be dreamy, whose Imperialism was the Imperialism of the air”.
Idealism and anti-imperialism are obviously not to be considered as being very
English any more, but rather seem to have died out all over modern Europe.
Table of Contents
1. The Dividing Line between Public and Private Values in Modern Literature
Objectives and Research Focus
This essay investigates the conceptual boundaries between private and public values in E.M. Forster’s Howards End and George Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-Four, analyzing how both authors depict the tension between individual existence and political spheres. The study aims to determine whether these authors endorse a separation of these realms or advocate for their integration as a necessary foundation for a humane society.
- Analysis of the interplay between idealism and materialism in Howards End.
- Evaluation of the impact of totalitarian structures on private life in Nineteen Eighty-Four.
- Examination of social stratification and its role in maintaining political order.
- Comparative critique of the authors' differing views on liberalism and the role of the intellectual.
- Discussion on how historical shifts from the early 20th century to the post-war era influenced literary representations of society.
Excerpt from the Book
The Dividing Line between Public and Private Values in Modern Literature
In contrast to the Wilcoxes as representatives of the “outer life”, Helen and Margaret Schlegel’s idealism and culturally-minded attitude is depicted as a dedication to the “inner life”. While Helen is totally convinced that “personal relations are the real life, for ever and ever”, her sister Margaret – the brighter character of the Schlegels – has a much more pragmatic mind-set. She feels aware about the fact that [i]f Wilcoxes hadn’t worked and died in England for thousands of years, you and I couldn’t sit here without having our throats cut. There would be no trains, no ships to carry us literary people about in, no fields even. Just savagery. No – perhaps not even that. Without their spirit life might never have moved out of protoplasm.
Chapter Summaries
1. The Dividing Line between Public and Private Values in Modern Literature: This chapter introduces the comparative analysis of Forster and Orwell, establishing their historical contexts and the central tension between private, inner lives and public, capitalist or totalitarian spheres.
Keywords
E.M. Forster, George Orwell, Howards End, Nineteen Eighty-Four, private values, public values, liberalism, imperialism, capitalism, totalitarianism, social alienation, class structure, inner life, outer life, doublethink
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this academic essay?
The essay explores the distinction between private and public values in the works of E.M. Forster and George Orwell, questioning if this separation is beneficial or detrimental to a modern society.
What are the primary thematic areas covered?
The themes include the clash between middle-class idealism and colonial capitalism, the impact of totalitarianism on personal freedom, and the shifting social roles of individuals within structured societies.
What is the central research question?
The research seeks to determine whether Forster and Orwell endorse or contest the existence of a dividing line between private and public spheres in their literary portrayals of society.
Which scientific methodology is employed?
The author utilizes a comparative literary analysis, evaluating character development, narrative structure, and thematic motifs within both novels in relation to historical and socio-political developments.
What does the main body of the work address?
The main body examines the Schlegel and Wilcox families in Howards End, the social hierarchy of Oceania in Nineteen Eighty-Four, and the authors' respective stances on humanism, power, and political engagement.
Which keywords define this academic work?
Key terms include liberalism, imperialism, totalitarism, alienation, inner and outer life, and social hierarchy.
How does the author characterize the Schlegels versus the Wilcoxes in Howards End?
The Schlegels are portrayed as representatives of the "inner life" and idealism, while the Wilcoxes represent the "outer life," characterized by capitalism, imperialism, and a focus on material accumulation.
How is the concept of "doublethink" relevant to Winston Smith’s situation?
Doublethink is analyzed as a mechanism of control used by the Party to ensure the Outer Party internalizes contradictory truths, thereby suppressing independent critical thought and maintaining totalitarian stability.
- Quote paper
- Jan H. Hauptmann (Author), 2007, The Dividing Line between Private and Public Values in Modern Literature, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/118355
