Eleanor Dark and Eugenics

In your opinion what is the main theme of "Prelude to Christopher"? What are the social and cultural forces that shaped Dark’s vision?

Essay , 2008 , 5 Pages , Grade: 80/100 Pkt

Didactics for the subject English - Literature, Works

In this essay I am going to write about the main theme in “Prelude to Christopher” and its contemporary role when Eleanor Dark wrote the novel till 1933, including the social and cultural factors influenced her motives to write.
“Prelude to Christopher” is a novel which was first published in 1934. The plot is told in a very economic and clear time span of four days in the small and conservative country town Balleena and the story begins with an accident of Nigel Hendon, the husband of Linda, on Tuesday and finally ends with the suicide of Linda on Thursday.

Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)

• Introduction
• The Main Theme
• Eugenics
• Madness and Social Crisis
• The Social and Cultural Forces
• Modernisation and Disillusionment
• The Influence of Sigmund Freud
• Eleanor Dark's Family History
• The Nature vs. Nurture Debate
• Conclusion

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)

This essay explores the main theme of Eleanor Dark's "Prelude to Christopher" and analyzes the social and cultural forces that shaped Dark's vision. The essay examines the role of eugenics, madness, and social control in the novel, highlighting their relevance within the historical context of the 1930s.

Key Themes:

• Eugenics as a Response to Modernisation and Social Crisis
• The Nature vs. Nurture Debate and its Influence on Perceptions of Madness
• The Impact of War and Disillusionment on Individual and Societal Ideals
• The Role of Family History and Personal Experiences in Shaping Artistic Vision
• The Exploration of Social Control and Conformity in a Conservative Society

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)

This section focuses on the main themes, arguments, and narrative elements of each chapter, excluding summaries of the conclusion or final chapter.

Introduction:

This introductory section provides a brief overview of the novel, its plot, and the characters involved. The author introduces the main theme of eugenics and the contemporary context in which the novel was written.

The Main Theme:

This section delves deeper into the concept of eugenics, explaining its meaning and its relevance to the novel. The author discusses the different perspectives on eugenics, including the negative eugenics prevalent in the early 20th century and the more contemporary approach of positive or liberal eugenics.

The Social and Cultural Forces:

This section explores the social and cultural forces that influenced Eleanor Dark's writing, examining the impact of modernization, disillusionment, and scientific progress. The author discusses the influence of Sigmund Freud and the nature vs. nurture debate on Dark's perspective.

Eleanor Dark's Family History:

This section delves into the influence of Eleanor Dark's personal experiences and family history on her novel. The author explores the role of madness and insanity in her family and its connection to the theme of eugenics.

Conclusion:

This section, excluded from the preview, provides a summary of the essay's main points and offers concluding remarks on the themes and arguments explored.

Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)

The primary keywords and focus topics of the text include eugenics, madness, social control, modernity, disillusionment, nature vs. nurture, family history, and the influence of Sigmund Freud. These keywords encapsulate the central concepts of the novel, including its exploration of the social and cultural forces that shaped Eleanor Dark's vision.

• College: Griffith University (Griffith Univiersity in Brisbane/ Australien)
• Grade: 80/100 Pkt
• Author: Daniel Lennartz (Author)
• Publication Year: 2008
• Pages: 5
• Catalog Number: V138863
• ISBN (eBook): 9783640484713
• Language: English
• Tags: Eugenics, Eugenik, Australien, Prelude to Christopher, Australia, Psych, Psyche, Madness, Rassismus, Rassenlehre, Sozialdarwinismus, Socialdarwinism, Eleanor Dark