Since its reprint in 1957 Sinclair Ross’s As for Me and My House has been considered to be one of Canada’s most important literary works and has been honoured with great attention amongst numerous critics. The discussion ranges from gay / lesbian approaches over biographical comparisons of the characters with historical figures to psychoanalytical approaches to the protagonists’ personalities.
The subjective point of view of the fictional diary of Mrs. Bentley has always been an obstacle for the critics. As the diarist she slips into the roles of author, actor and reader, which leads to a constant shifting of her position as subject, object, observer, or third person.
John H. Ferres has pointed out three capital themes in Sinclair Ross’s works, which are of special relevance for As for Me and My House: the difficulty of communication, the strive for authenticity and the struggle against the harsh Canadian prairie. Being categorized as a “Künstlerroman”, artistic expression of any kind plays a major role in the novel. Thus, art is also functioning as a medium for the expression of the characters’ personalities, for coping with the hostile natural environment and finally for the constant try to carry their inner concerns outside.
Based on As For Me and My House the volume of poems by Lorna Crozier, named A Saving Grace give further insights into Mrs. Bentley’ nature. The poems pick up the topics of Mrs. Bentley’s diary as a kind of fictional continuation in the form of very personal and intimate poems dealing with the same themes of nature, art and communication.
This essay will discuss the relevance of the three mentioned themes and their reappearing in the different art genres treated in the texts, especially writing, painting and music. It will focus on the way in which art is used as a medium of expression and how it distinguishes the characters from each other. Three poems from Crozier’s volume, each dealing with one of the three main genres, will give further insight into these aspects.
Following this the essay will examine the presence of nature in the characters’ lives and artworks, and its significance for their state of minds. Three further poems revolving around the weather and the landscape will illustrate this additionally.
The last point will examine the verbal and non-verbal forms of communication established by the characters. Again the attention lies on the importance of art, here functioning as a medium for communication.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Art-genres in As for Me and My House and A Saving Grace
2.1 Writing
2.2 Painting
2.3 Music
3. Art and Nature in As for Me and My House and A Saving Grace
4. Art and communication in As for Me and My House and A Saving Grace
5. Conclusion
6. Bibliography
Research Objectives and Themes
This essay explores how artistic expression acts as a medium for character development, emotional coping, and interpersonal communication in Sinclair Ross’s novel "As for Me and My House" and Lorna Crozier’s poetry collection "A Saving Grace." It examines the internal conflicts of the protagonists as they navigate their failed creative ambitions and strained marriage against the backdrop of the harsh Canadian prairie.
- The function of writing, painting, and music as mirrors for character psychology.
- The impact of the hostile natural environment on the characters' mental states.
- The intertextual dialogue between Ross’s novel and Crozier’s poetic interpretations.
- The role of non-verbal communication and silence within the marital relationship.
- The struggle for authenticity in a landscape characterized by social restraint and physical isolation.
Excerpt from the Book
2.1 Writing
Mrs. Bentley starts her journal after the arrival in Horizon, where she finds herself trapped in the same situation as in the towns she has lived in before. Since she married Philip she followed him to several small-towns where he worked as a preacher. Very soon she found herself being forced into a certain role: “In return for their thousand dollars a year they expect a genteel kind of piety, a well bred Christianity that will serve as an example to the little sons and daughters of the town. It was twelve years ago, in our first town, that I learned my lesson […]” (Ross 1989: 5). She grows a sense of exposure and the need to hide from the eyes of the town. The narrow ceilings and small windows of their house in Horizon make her feel even more imprisoned (Ross 1989: 17) and because of the fact that it is built very close to the street she feels spied upon by the town: “[…] they must have build the house up close to the street like this in order to learn a little about the occupants. Anyway I feel exposed, catch myself walking on tiptoe, talking to Philip in half-whispers.” (Ross 1989: 18) Feeling pressurized like this the only possibility to be herself and to reflect upon her situation openly is her writing.
Here she records the developments of the relationships between herself, Philip, Judith, Paul, Steve and a couple of further characters. Since she has a talent in dealing with other people, she has a strong influence on these relationships. She repeatedly invites guests for dinner and while she is presenting herself as a perfect hostess she analyses their behaviour to write it down in her diary when they have left. This kind of relationship-management reveals an aggressive need to be in control of things and to maintain the overview. On the other hand this is a sign for her powerlessness in the marital life.
Chapter Summaries
1. Introduction: This chapter outlines the critical reception of "As for Me and My House" and introduces the core themes of communication, authenticity, and the struggle against the prairie environment.
2. Art-genres in As for Me and My House and A Saving Grace: The chapter analyzes how writing, painting, and music serve as individual modes of expression and psychological outlets for the characters.
3. Art and Nature in As for Me and My House and A Saving Grace: This section investigates how the landscape functions as both a source of inspiration and a hostile force that mirrors the characters' internal disillusionment.
4. Art and communication in As for Me and My House and A Saving Grace: This part explores the pervasive silence and difficulty in verbal expression that defines the Bentleys' relationship and their attempts to use art to bridge this gap.
5. Conclusion: The conclusion synthesizes how the interplay between art and the characters' lives highlights the impossibility of reconciling personal desires with domestic and environmental realities.
6. Bibliography: A comprehensive list of primary and secondary sources used in the analysis.
Keywords
As for Me and My House, A Saving Grace, Sinclair Ross, Lorna Crozier, Canadian Literature, Prairie, Künstlerroman, Intertextuality, Mrs. Bentley, Philip Bentley, Communication, Art, Painting, Writing, Music.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary subject of this academic study?
This study analyzes the role of art—specifically writing, painting, and music—as a medium through which the characters in Sinclair Ross’s novel and Lorna Crozier’s poetry express their personalities and cope with their failed ambitions.
What are the central themes explored in the text?
The core themes include the difficulty of communication, the struggle for authenticity, the influence of the environment (the Canadian prairie), and the psychological impact of living behind "false fronts."
What is the research goal of this paper?
The goal is to demonstrate how the Bentleys use artistic genres to manage their personal unhappiness and how Lorna Crozier’s poems serve as a fictional continuation that adds depth to the protagonists' experiences.
Which scientific method is applied here?
The author uses a literary-analytical approach, focusing on intertextuality, psychological character interpretation, and the thematic analysis of symbolism within the referenced literary works.
What topics are covered in the main body?
The main body examines the specific art forms (writing, painting, music), the symbolic relationship between the characters and the harsh landscape, and the conflict between verbal and non-verbal forms of communication.
Which keywords best describe the paper?
Key terms include "As for Me and My House," "Künstlerroman," "Intertextuality," "Prairie," and "Communication."
How does the author interpret Mrs. Bentley's diary?
The author interprets the diary as a secret, vital space for Mrs. Bentley to assert control and self-discovery, standing in contrast to her public role as a passive preacher's wife.
What is the significance of the "mise en abyme" in the context of this study?
The study notes how Ross creates a "picture in the picture" by linking the protagonist Philip’s artistic struggle with the historical artist El Greco, thereby elevating the novel’s thematic discourse.
Why is the "garrison mentality" relevant to this analysis?
The term is used to explain the characters' psychological withdrawal into safe, structured societal roles as a defense mechanism against the overwhelming and frightening nature of the wilderness.
- Quote paper
- Anna Winkelmann (Author), 2004, Art in Sinclair Ross's 'As for Me and My House' and Lorna Crozier's 'A Saving Grace', Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/65970
