In contrast to the writings by his contemporary Henry James, Howells's A Hazard of New
Fortunes can surely not be called a "difficult" read. The socio-critical message seems obvious,
the sequence of events is almost linear and easy to follow, and the characters act in a
sufficiently comprehensible way. Yet as it often happens, more subtle implications become
apparent when the novel is given some deeper thought. One just has to begin to ask questions
like 'why do we have such a multitude of characters?' or 'why is this or that statement put into
irony?', and one will discover an intrinsic network of interrelated meaning on a number of
different levels.
Ironically enough, Howells seems to give himself some of the reasons for a certain
underestimation of his literature. He sees that an art which prefers "the common, the simple
and the unpretentious" contradicts the aesthetic demands of a sophisticated readership, and so
does a strong ethical concern. In A Hazard Howells makes March explain, for example, that if
he wrote "those things with an ethical intention explicitly in mind, [he] should spoil them"
(129). Furthermore strong ethical opinions are met with a lack of understanding. Ethical
convictions do not seem to fit into modern times and appear either old-fashioned, antiaesthetic
or both.
Whilst Howells explores the question of ethics, responsibility and agency through the
carful description of people's problems, thoughts and doings - faithful to his maxim that
"realism is nothing more and nothing less than the truthful treatment of material" (1993, Vol
II: 319) - a Danish philosopher, Søren Kierkegaard, developed a system of modes of human
existence to the same purpose half a century earlier. Like Howells, he started from a faithful
description and analysis of human character. [...]
Table of Contents
Kierkegaard's Modes of Existence
The Characters in A Hazard
March
Lindau
Fulkerson
Research Objective and Key Themes
This paper aims to explore the deep structural and ethical parallels between William Dean Howells's novel A Hazard of New Fortunes and the existential philosophy of Søren Kierkegaard, specifically focusing on how both authors analyze the position of the individual within rapidly changing modern capitalist societies.
- The aesthetic versus the ethical mode of human existence.
- The impact of capitalist economic structures on individual character development.
- Howells’s use of indirect communication and irony as narrative techniques.
- The conflict between social conventions and true subjective authenticity.
- A character-driven analysis of March, Lindau, and Fulkerson through an existential lens.
Excerpt from the Book
March
March is no doubt the central figure. He is introduced in the very first line and it is his words that close the novel. As some of Howells's biographical data correspond to those of March, March may possibly be regarded as an alter ego of the author.
March is represented as a devoted family father. He is educated, intelligent, pleasant, tolerant and benevolent. In New York he takes his environment in with the clear eye of an open-minded intellectual. Not to despair because of the perceived inequalities of modern city life, he adopts the attitude of an objective and disinterested observer. This stance, however, becomes increasingly problematic as can be noted by his change from high spirited irony to bitter sarcasm towards the second half of the novel. Yet chance (or Howells perceiving the possibilities of the chance world) helps March to almost recover by happy circumstances. His life can keep flowing quietly ever after.
Summary of Chapters
Kierkegaard's Modes of Existence: This chapter defines the core existential categories of aesthetic, ethical, and religious modes of life, emphasizing the individual's role as the central subject navigating modern societal pressures.
The Characters in A Hazard: This section introduces the methodology of analyzing individual personages within the novel to reveal Howells’s psychological depth and his mastery in depicting complex human patterns.
March: This chapter examines March as an 'aesthete' who employs irony and rationalization to avoid the demands of a truly subjective, ethical life.
Lindau: This chapter analyzes Lindau as a character who attempts to bridge the gap between abstract socialist ideals and ethical action, ultimately identifying his commitment as a form of Kierkegaardian 'actuality'.
Fulkerson: This chapter discusses Fulkerson as the personification of the modern, consumption-based American ethos, using his skills as an 'advertiser' to mask a lack of true individual integrity.
Keywords
Realism, Søren Kierkegaard, William Dean Howells, A Hazard of New Fortunes, Aesthetic Mode, Ethical Mode, Existentialism, Capitalism, Individualism, Irony, Indirect Communication, Social Criticism, Subjectivity, Modernity, Character Analysis.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this academic paper?
The paper explores the intersection between William Dean Howells's novel and the existential philosophy of Søren Kierkegaard, analyzing how both navigate the role of the individual in modern society.
Which thematic areas are central to the work?
Central themes include the tension between aesthetic and ethical modes of existence, the influence of capitalism on personal authenticity, and the use of irony to critique social hypocrisies.
What is the primary objective of the research?
The objective is to demonstrate that Kierkegaard’s modes of existence provide a deeper analytical framework for understanding the psychological and ethical conflicts faced by the characters in Howells’s novel.
Which scientific methodology is employed?
The author uses a comparative literary and philosophical analysis, applying Kierkegaardian existential categories to the specific character traits and narrative developments in Howells's text.
What is addressed in the main body of the paper?
The main body focuses on a detailed analysis of three primary characters—March, Lindau, and Fulkerson—evaluating their behaviors through the lens of Kierkegaardian modes of existence.
Which keywords best characterize this work?
The work is defined by terms such as Realism, existentialism, subjectivity, the aesthetic/ethical modes, and critique of the capitalist social order.
How does the author interpret March’s use of irony?
The author suggests that March’s irony is a defensive mechanism that keeps him on the verge of ethical development without allowing him to actually transcend his aesthetic existence.
Why is Fulkerson identified as a "seducer" in the paper?
Fulkerson is categorized as a Kierkegaardian "seducer" because he treats reality and other people as tools for his own schemes, prioritizing the thrill of planning and manipulation over genuine integrity.
- Quote paper
- Sixta Quaßdorf (Author), 2002, William Dean Howell's A Hazard of New Fortunes and Soren Kierkegaard's Philosophy of Existence, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/17505
