English Language and Literature Commons^™

The Art Of Perception: An Analysis Of How A Desired Public Image Affects One’S Actions, Alexandria Mccollum

Seaver College Research And Scholarly Achievement Symposium

Written in 1859, Adam Bede was George Eliot’s first novel and marked the beginning of her fascination with class distinction and social perception. The main characters of her novel, Adam Bede and Hetty Sorrel, find themselves engaged in efforts in maintain their respective images, fulfill societal expectations, and transcend class distinctions. Initially, Adam is painted by Eliot as a devoted, hardworking, hypercritical man while Hetty is depicted as childlike and innocent. As each character struggles to maintain her/his public image and find their place in the class system, they encounter challenges that call for reevaluation of the importance of image. …