Radcliffe Revised

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I.I. About the AuthorAbout the Author II.II. OeuvreOeuvreIII.III. CriticismCriticism IV.IV. QuotationsQuotations V.V. LinksLinks VI.VI. Works CitedWorks Cited

About the AuthorAbout the Author

Ann Radcliffe was born on July 9, 1764. Ann Radcliffe was born on July 9, 1764. She was named after her mom, Ann She was named after her mom, Ann Oates Ward. When Ann Radcliffe was Oates Ward. When Ann Radcliffe was about seven years of age, her father about seven years of age, her father became the Wedgewood representative became the Wedgewood representative at Bath. There, Ann grew up, and at Bath. There, Ann grew up, and eventually met William Radcliffe. In eventually met William Radcliffe. In 1787, Ann and William get married, and 1787, Ann and William get married, and they eventually move to London. they eventually move to London. William becomes a journalist for William becomes a journalist for parliamentary proceedings (Wellington). parliamentary proceedings (Wellington).

About the Author (cont.)About the Author (cont.)

The Castles of Athlyn and Dunblayne was Ann’s first The Castles of Athlyn and Dunblayne was Ann’s first novel, and it was published in 1789. Ann begins to novel, and it was published in 1789. Ann begins to write a tour diary when she and William tour write a tour diary when she and William tour Holland, Germany, and the English lake region Holland, Germany, and the English lake region (Wellington). This diary eventually developed into a (Wellington). This diary eventually developed into a tour book. Her tour book focused on the beauty of tour book. Her tour book focused on the beauty of nature. When Radcliffe was about 33 years old she nature. When Radcliffe was about 33 years old she wrote “The Italian” which was her last novel. wrote “The Italian” which was her last novel. Radcliffe was plagued with respiratory and digestive Radcliffe was plagued with respiratory and digestive problems, and eventually died on the 7th of February problems, and eventually died on the 7th of February in 1823 (Baros).in 1823 (Baros).

OeuvreOeuvre

Ann Radcliffe is a conservative Ann Radcliffe is a conservative gothic writer. She promotes gothic writer. She promotes conservative values through her conservative values through her gothic stories. Each poem when gothic stories. Each poem when examined alone is similar to the examined alone is similar to the classic love story. However, when classic love story. However, when you look at her work as a whole she you look at her work as a whole she seems to imply that the remedy to seems to imply that the remedy to the ills of society is conservative the ills of society is conservative values (Durant, 520).values (Durant, 520).

Oeuvre (cont.)Oeuvre (cont.)

Ann appears to reject the newfound individualism Ann appears to reject the newfound individualism movement of society. Although most find being an movement of society. Although most find being an individual is liberating, Ann seemed to think this new individual is liberating, Ann seemed to think this new way was “crippling isolation” (Durant, 520). In Ann’s way was “crippling isolation” (Durant, 520). In Ann’s stories, she shows a world (e.g. family) with stories, she shows a world (e.g. family) with traditional values, and then she shows a particular traditional values, and then she shows a particular villain betraying the heroine. The heroines in her villain betraying the heroine. The heroines in her stories have an innocent background going back to stories have an innocent background going back to when they were protected by a family (Durant, 521). when they were protected by a family (Durant, 521).


The family is representative of traditional values. The family is representative of traditional values. Once the heroines are somehow separated from the Once the heroines are somehow separated from the family’s protection, chaos ensues. Due to the villain’s family’s protection, chaos ensues. Due to the villain’s actions, traditional values are lost, and a world of actions, traditional values are lost, and a world of individuals emerges. The irony with Radcliffe’s individuals emerges. The irony with Radcliffe’s novels is that the family’s protection is not lifted for novels is that the family’s protection is not lifted for any particular wrong doing by the heroine. The any particular wrong doing by the heroine. The protection just vanishes. So it seems like Radcliffe is protection just vanishes. So it seems like Radcliffe is suggesting that a mystical type of protection is given suggesting that a mystical type of protection is given

when the heroines are in the family.when the heroines are in the family.


No particular action by the heroine causes the No particular action by the heroine causes the problems. The twists with Radcliffe’s novels problems. The twists with Radcliffe’s novels are that the solutions to the problems in the are that the solutions to the problems in the story are resolved by reverting back to story are resolved by reverting back to traditional values (Durant, 521). Further, this traditional values (Durant, 521). Further, this type of contrasting (i.e. world with family type of contrasting (i.e. world with family versus a world with individuals), mixed with versus a world with individuals), mixed with the mystical protection of the family adds a the mystical protection of the family adds a sort of deontological quality to the morals of sort of deontological quality to the morals of her story.her story.


Essentially, Radcliffe is Essentially, Radcliffe is suggesting that suggesting that traditional values are the traditional values are the answer to society’s ills answer to society’s ills without providing any without providing any logic behind why logic behind why traditional values are the traditional values are the solution. solution.

CriticismCriticism Amelia Warren says that Ann Radcliffe stresses Amelia Warren says that Ann Radcliffe stresses

the superiority of nature over mankind. Warren the superiority of nature over mankind. Warren states when Emily (a character in The Mysteries of states when Emily (a character in The Mysteries of Udolpho) is described as watching the clouds “in Udolpho) is described as watching the clouds “in silent awe”, this is evident of the superiority of silent awe”, this is evident of the superiority of nature over man. The ego that Emily possesses nature over man. The ego that Emily possesses here is opposite of the male ego which was here is opposite of the male ego which was dominant then. The male ego then oppressed dominant then. The male ego then oppressed women because men felt they were superior to women because men felt they were superior to everything. Amelia appears to feel Emily’s everything. Amelia appears to feel Emily’s mentality is not egotistical, and seems to be more mentality is not egotistical, and seems to be more down to earth.down to earth.

QuotationsQuotations

““It is dismal coming home, when there is It is dismal coming home, when there is nobody to welcome one!” nobody to welcome one!”

(Radcliffe, “The Mysteries of Udolfo”).(Radcliffe, “The Mysteries of Udolfo”).

““Who can pause to admire the elegancies Who can pause to admire the elegancies of art, when surrounded by the wonders of art, when surrounded by the wonders of nature?” (Radcliffe, (1764-1823”).of nature?” (Radcliffe, (1764-1823”).

Quotations (cont.)Quotations (cont.)

““Though the vicious can Though the vicious can sometimes pour affliction upon sometimes pour affliction upon the good, their power is the good, their power is transient and their punishment transient and their punishment certain; and that innocence, certain; and that innocence, though oppressed by injustice, though oppressed by injustice, shall, supported by patience, shall, supported by patience, finally triumph over finally triumph over misfortune!” (Radcliffe, “The misfortune!” (Radcliffe, “The Mysteries”).Mysteries”).

Quotations (cont.)Quotations (cont.)

““The passions are the The passions are the seeds of vices as well as seeds of vices as well as of virtues, from which of virtues, from which either may spring, either may spring, accordingly as they are accordingly as they are nurtured. Unhappy they nurtured. Unhappy they who have never been who have never been taught the art to govern taught the art to govern them!” (Radcliffe, “The them!” (Radcliffe, “The Mysteries”).Mysteries”).

LinksLinks

http://www.english.upenn.edu/http://www.english.upenn.edu/~mgamer/Etexts/~mgamer/Etexts/radcliffepoems.html#sicilianradcliffepoems.html#sicilian

http://www.gutenberg.org/files/http://www.gutenberg.org/files/3268/3268-h/3268-h.htm#2HCH00263268/3268-h/3268-h.htm#2HCH0026

http://www.litgothic.com/Authors/http://www.litgothic.com/Authors/radcliffe.htmlradcliffe.html

Works CitedWorks Cited Baros, Carolyn A. and Smith, Johanna. "Ann Radcliffe: 1764-1823." 322- Baros, Carolyn A. and Smith, Johanna. "Ann Radcliffe: 1764-1823." 322-

333. University Press of New England, 2000. 333. University Press of New England, 2000. Literary Reference Literary Reference CenterCenter. . EBSCO. Delmar Library, Corpus Christi, Tx. 12 Aug. 2009 EBSCO. Delmar Library, Corpus Christi, Tx. 12 Aug. 2009 <http://library.delmar.edu:2048/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.co<http://library.delmar.edu:2048/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.co m/login.aspx?m/login.aspx?direct=true&db=lfh&AN=37382135&site=lrc-live>.direct=true&db=lfh&AN=37382135&site=lrc-live>.

Durant, David. "Ann Radcliffe and the Conservative Gothic." Studies in Durant, David. "Ann Radcliffe and the Conservative Gothic." Studies in English English Literature (Rice) 22.3 (Summer82 1982): 519. Literary Literature (Rice) 22.3 (Summer82 1982): 519. Literary Reference Reference

Center. EBSCO. Delmar Library, Corpus Christi, Tx. 11 Center. EBSCO. Delmar Library, Corpus Christi, Tx. 11 Aug. 2009 Aug. 2009 <http://library.delmar.edu:2048/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.co<http://library.delmar.edu:2048/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.co m/m/

login.aspx?direct=true&db=lfh&AN=4721655&site=lrc-live>.login.aspx?direct=true&db=lfh&AN=4721655&site=lrc-live>. Radcliffe, Ann. "Ann Radcliffe: 1764-1823." 322-333. Baros, Carolyn A. Radcliffe, Ann. "Ann Radcliffe: 1764-1823." 322-333. Baros, Carolyn A. and and

Smith, Johanna. University Press of New England, 2000. Smith, Johanna. University Press of New England, 2000. Literary Literary Reference CenterReference Center. EBSCO. Delmar Library, Corpus Christi, Tx. 12 . EBSCO. Delmar Library, Corpus Christi, Tx. 12 Aug. Aug. 2009 2009 <http://library.delmar.edu:2048/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.co<http://library.delmar.edu:2048/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.co m/m/login.aspx?direct=true&db=lfh&AN=37382135&site=lrc-live>.login.aspx?direct=true&db=lfh&AN=37382135&site=lrc-live>.

---"The Mysteries of Udolpho". August 12 2009. ---"The Mysteries of Udolpho". August 12 2009. <http://www.gutenberg.org/files/3268/3268-h/3268-h.htm#2HCH0026>. <http://www.gutenberg.org/files/3268/3268-h/3268-h.htm#2HCH0026>.

Works Cited (cont.)Works Cited (cont.) Warren, Amelia. "The Significance of Gender in Warren, Amelia. "The Significance of Gender in

Radcliffe and Wordsworth ". August 12 2009. Radcliffe and Wordsworth ". August 12 2009. <http://www.ipl.org/div/litcrit/bin/litcrit.out.pl?au<http://www.ipl.org/div/litcrit/bin/litcrit.out.pl?au=rad-114>.=rad-114>.

Wellington, Charmaine. "ANN RADCLIFFE." Wellington, Charmaine. "ANN RADCLIFFE." Research Guide to Biography & Criticism 2 (Feb. Research Guide to Biography & Criticism 2 (Feb. 1985): 948-951. Literary Reference Center. 1985): 948-951. Literary Reference Center. EBSCO. EBSCO. Delmar, Corpus Christi, TX. 11 Aug. Delmar, Corpus Christi, TX. 11 Aug. 2009 2009 <http://library.delmar.edu:2048/login?url=http://s<http://library.delmar.edu:2048/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=earch.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=lfh&AN=17087992&site=lrc-live>. lfh&AN=17087992&site=lrc-live>.

Education

Radcliffe Revised