In this essay, I will approach the term ‘Jacobin novel’ with several definitions, attempting to cover as many aspects of William Godwin’s novel Caleb Williams and its background as possible. I will discuss with each definition whether it is applicable to the novel, or not. In the first part of the essay, the definition will be concerned with the political background of the author, mainly. Then I will consider the political philosophy inherent in the novel itself. Finally, I will investigate the aesthetics of Caleb Williams, and discuss whether these contradict the political content of the novel.
The first difficulties when trying to define the term ‘Jacobin novel’ arise with the word ‘Jacobin.’ It has been used in the English Revolution debate of the 1790s mainly by the conservatives, counter-revolutionaries, or ‘Anti-Jacobins’ to name, or rather denounce, the supporters of the French Revolution. These had rather little to do with the particular political movement of revolutionary France which went under that name.
[T]he term ‘Jacobin’ itself is misleading, since most of those in Britain who bore that label were in fact Girondins in their principles and beliefs, and took their political thought from native rather than French precedents.
The name ‘Jacobin,’ however, was at least partly accepted by the English supporters of the French Revolution (Kelly 2), and is useful as an umbrella term for the relatively heterogeneous group of progressive political forces in the 1790s.2 As the author of Enquiry Concerning Political Justice and several pamphlets, Godwin was “obviously directly involved in organized English Jacobinism in the early 1790s” (Kelly 4).
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Is Caleb Williams a Jacobin Novel?
- The Term 'Jacobin Novel'
- The Political Philosophy in Caleb Williams
- The Aesthetics of Caleb Williams
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This essay aims to explore the concept of a "Jacobin novel" through an analysis of William Godwin's Caleb Williams, examining the political background of the author, the novel's inherent political philosophy, and the aesthetic elements of the text. The essay will assess whether the novel aligns with various definitions of "Jacobin novel" and determine if any contradictions exist between its political content and its aesthetics.
- The evolution and usage of the term "Jacobin" in the English Revolution debate of the 1790s
- The role of political philosophy in shaping the novel's plot and characters
- The portrayal of social and legal inequalities within the framework of the novel's narrative
- The representation of class conflict between the aristocracy and the common man in the novel
- The influence of Godwin's political treatise, Enquiry Concerning Political Justice, on Caleb Williams
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
The essay begins by analyzing the term "Jacobin novel" and its complexities, exploring the various interpretations and applications of the term in the context of the English Revolution debate. It then delves into the political philosophy embedded within Caleb Williams, examining Godwin's views on justice, human character development, and the influence of social circumstances.
The essay then focuses on the novel's plot and characters, highlighting how Godwin's political philosophy shapes the dynamics of the narrative. The essay explores the themes of biased legal systems, the role of social class, and the impact of societal structures on individual lives.
The essay also examines the relationship between Godwin's political ideas and the aesthetic elements of the novel. It considers the significance of the novel's original title, the prefaces, and the characters' actions and dialogues in relation to Godwin's political views.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
The essay focuses on key terms and concepts related to the Jacobin novel, political philosophy, and the English Revolution debate. These include: Jacobinism, political justice, class conflict, social inequality, legal bias, and the representation of the aristocracy and the common man. The essay draws on Godwin's major works, including Caleb Williams and Enquiry Concerning Political Justice, to explore these themes and concepts.
- Quote paper
- Mag. Markus Widmer (Author), 1998, Is "Caleb Williams" a Jacobin Novel?, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/14787
