Arts and Humanities Commons^™

Veiled Victorian Vampires: What Literary Antagonists Reveal About Societal Fears Of 19th Century England, Jenna Harford

Honors Theses

In my thesis paper I look at three primary texts, Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre, Charles Dickens’ Great Expectations, and Oscar Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray to analyze their main antagonists through a vampiric lens. I explain how the characters of Bertha Mason, Miss Havisham, and Dorian Gray are all written with veiled vampiric traits that revolve around themes of sexuality, secrecy and seclusion, and unbridled physical and emotional violence. Although none of these texts is obviously a “vampire novel”, the authors lean into vampire tropes including eerie physical description, doubled relationships, and other vampire lore that can be best …

In The Midst Of Life We Are In Death : Suicide Coverage In The South During The Civil War Era, India Miller

Honors Theses

The Civil War cast a shadow of despair over the divided nation as it left an estimated 620,000 men—roughly 2% of the population—dead on American soil, killed by American hands. Death and the Civil War are two subjects that are synonymous with one another; it is impossible to write on the war without commenting on its immense number of casualties. That said, relatively little is known about suicides behind the front lines.

In The Midst Of Life We Are In Death : Suicide Coverage In The South During The Civil War Era, India Miller

Honors Theses

The Civil War cast a shadow of despair over the divided nation as it left an estimated 620,000 men—roughly 2% of the population—dead on American soil, killed by American hands. Death and the Civil War are two subjects that are synonymous with one another; it is impossible to write on the war without commenting on its immense number of casualties. That said, relatively little is known about suicides behind the front lines. Only weeks after the end of the Civil War, Virginian Edmund Ruffin, a proud supporter of the Confederacy, lifted his rifle, placed the muzzle in his mouth and …

White Female Criminals In Civil War Richmond, 1860-1865, Frances Sisson

Honors Theses

This study tells the story of white female criminals and addresses the problem of the white female criminality and the resulting reaction of the patriarchal society in Richmond, Virginia during the Civil War, specifically the years 1861-1864. During the Civil War, white female criminality became a daily occurrence because of the wartime conditions in Richmond, such as inflation and overpopulation. Because of the established patriarchal society and the lack of emphasis on the women's rights movement in the South, the female involvement in crime during the war was extremely shocking to the male driven society. The judicial system struggled with …

"A Change Has Swept Over Our Land": American Moravians And The Civil War, Adrienne E. Robertson

Master's Theses

When they first came to North America, the Moravians—a pietistic, Germanic Christian sect—settled in isolated communities where only a few people ventured out to do missionary work for the community. They separated themselves from their non-Moravian neighbors, one missionary community serving the North from its seat in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, and the other serving the South from Salem, North Carolina, and neither participating in civic or military life. Then, over the course of a few decades, economic and civic circumstances forced the Moravians in North America to adapt their ways to be more like those of their non-Moravian neighbors, adopting styles …

The Inheritance Of Lawless Passion : An Examination Of Interracial Relationships Through Slave Narratives, Genna K. Murray

Honors Theses

WPA narratives uphold that during the institution of slavery there was a wide variety of interracial relationships that ranged from the most brutal rapes to the most loving relationships. While some white slave owners took sadistic pleasure in torturing their slave women, others jeopardized their social standing and career to be with the woman they loved. Therefore, it is difficult to make vast generalizations about interracial relationships during slavery and they should really be examined on a case‐ specific level. However, it can be argued that most interracial relationships fell somewhere in the middle of the two previously stated extremes. …

The Politics Of Sectional Servitude : The Construction Of American Abolitionist Discourse In Black And White, 1837-1847, Christopher M. Florio

Honors Theses

I argue that American political discourse surrounding abolition and slavery, sectional politics and violent insurrection, coalesced in the 1840s. The merger of such ostensibly disconnected streams of thought began with the perception of a new political need, as abolitionists came to believe that southern plantation elites had constructed a hegemonic proslavery order. Their interpretation of northern consent to southern domination impelled a proliferation of abolitionist possibilities, possibilities that were intended to sever the connection between national politics and the peculiar institution. Initially disseminated by freed blacks but subsequently appropriated by northern whites, these possibilities crossed the color line and challenged …

The Burning And Reconstruction Of Chambersburg, Pennsylvania 1864-1870, Gordon Boyer Lawrence

Master's Theses

Although many studies of Chambersburg's devastation during the American Civil War have been researched, all have focused on the military actions taken by both sides during the conflict. This thesis instead attempts to explore some of the effects of military actions upon the permanent civilian population.

The Introduction develops a sense of the events which transpired in the town on the fateful day of July 30, 1864, provides an overview of potential research subjects, and details sources available to complete successfully the research parameters outlined. The early development of the community is explored in Chapter 1. This data is necessary …

Slaveowners And Southern Soldiers : The Military Participation Of The Slaveholding Community In Civil War Lunenburg County, Virginia, Glenn Seiler

Master's Theses

Before the final shot of the Civil War rang out, the phrase "a rich man's war, poor man's fight" was well embedded in the psyche of Confederate citizens. Many historians credit such perceptions with ultimately condemning the Confederacy to failure. While numerous government policies seemed to emphasize a sense of protection toward the men of affluent Southern families, Confederate leaders disputed such claims. To the common Southerner the rich did not contribute in an equitable share of the fighting and often sought personal gain while the masses endured hardships. There can be no doubt internal class dissent plagued the Confederacy …

American Travelers In Palestine : Origins Of Holy Land Discourse In Nineteeth-Century America, Matthew R. Scutari

Honors Theses

Throughout the nineteenth century, American writers, journalists, explorers, and pilgrims traveled to the region then known as Palestine, publishing travel narratives upon their return to the U.S. Such narratives were wildly popular during this period, and the accounts of these travelers quickly made their way into the nation's collective consciousness. From personal libraries to Sunday school classrooms, their depictions of the Holy Land, which reflected a uniquely American biblical tradition, ultimately painted a picture of Palestine that closely conformed to popular preconceptions of what the Holy Land ought to be, stubbornly resisting contradiction and reinforcing stereotypes already held by many …

American Identity In The Illinois Territory, 1809-1818, Daniel Northrup Finucane

Honors Theses

Many histories have been writen about Illinois, both by early inhabitants and modern scholars. The histories are quite inclusive, yet none specifically address the topic that I am examining. Scarce material exists regarding the Americanism of the early settlers in Illinois. But, in fashioning my argument on the subject, I have taken from a variety of these cources bits and pieces of information about geography, demographics, economics, politics, and social life. My hope is that these facts and arguments will help to substantiate my suggestions regarding the mindsets of territorial Illinoisians. The work coming closest to my focus is an …

The Victorian Construction Of Sappho, 1835-1914, Megan Kulp

Honors Theses

Sappho was an ancient Greek lyric poet writing on the isle if Lesbos in the seventh century BC. Her original works were contained in seven books; however, only a few fragments are extant. These fragments are mainly about women and are erotic in nature. Considering the homoerotic tone of Sappho's poetry, it is interesting that the Victorians were fascinated with her and a proliferation of biographies, artwork, plays, operas, translated poems, appeared in that era bearing her name. How did the Victorians reconcile the homoerotic tone of her poems with their own views on what was right and proper? The …

New Jersey Women And Their Strategies For Exerting Power In Marriage, 1770-1800, Jacqueline Deyo

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.

A Profile Of Virginia Businesswomen During The Civil War Era, Robyn Mundy

Master's Theses

This thesis examines the role of white Virginia businesswomen during the Civil War era, focusing on the three specific communities of Norfolk, Lynchburg, and Staunton. The primary questions addressed are: who were these women; why did they own their own businesses; and how successful were they? After searching the available business directories for each city, the R. G. Dun & Company credit ledgers provide descriptions of business owners, including some of these women, which, along with the manuscript census, give a socio-economic profile of Virginia businesswomen. After the conflict, the numbers of businesswomen increased and the firms they owned became …

The Civil War And Social Change : White Women In Fredericksburg, Virginia, Edward John Harcourt

Master's Theses

This thesis concerns the white women of Fredericksburg, Virginia, during and immediately after the Civil War. Between 1861-1865, Fredericksburg existed in the no-man's land between Washington, D.C. and Richmond, Virginia. The town was bombarded, occupied by enemy forces, and ransacked. Military control of the town changed hands 10 times. Four major battles were fought around Fredericksburg, resulting in over 100,000 casualties. Throughout the conflict, Fredericksburg's white women were in the thick of the action - supporting their troops, nursing the wounded, and managing the increasingly desperate struggle to provide food and shelter for their families. By 1865, many lives were …

The Businesswomen Of Richmond During The Civil War Era, Ilene Goldenberg

Honors Theses

The history of businesswomen, like the history of businessmen, is largely stories of failure. Most of the Richmond businesswomen during this period experienced no success, some achieved marginal success, and only a handful achieved great success. For every woman like Mrs. Lyons or Mrs. Philips, there were five who failed within five years. But when one of these businesswomen failed, the effects were generally restricted to that particular woman, since most of these women ran small businesses that did not employ many workers. While their lack of overall success stands out, these women were able to achieve more control over …

Cultural Barbarism And The Romantic Ideal An Analysis Of Three Cases Of Hero-Worship In 19th Century Germany, Gregory R. Chemnitz

Honors Theses

The 19th century produced numerous intellectual currents which were expressions of an incompatibility with the modern age. In reaction to the emergence of a now, urban, petty bourgeois world the 19th century intellectual of ten assumed the role of a prophet, warning of the decadent course of history while portraying an ideal form of existence which could eventually be achieved. One manifestation of this expression of dissent was Romanticism, and especially German Romanticism. In Germany there arose a passionate outcry for the internal purification of man and the return to an earlier condition. Associated with this was the worship of …

The English Public Health Movement, 1838-1848, Rebecca Dale

Honors Theses

Parliament passed its first comprehensive public health act in 1848. Prior to that time Britain as well as other European countries had mostly just tolerated insanitary conditions.

In English medieval towns people threw their garbage onto the narrow streets where animals--pigs, cattle, ducks--roamed, Houses were built with projections over the streets which blocked light and ventilation. There were few qualms about slaughtering animals on the streets. The common method of sewerage was by cesspools which in some cases were built underneath the houses and in most cases were cleaned out only once every several years by the "dust-collectors". Even in …

The Participation Of The Richmond Negro In Politics, 1890-1900, Joe B. Wilkins

Master's Theses

This short treatise on one aspect of Negro history is the result of the author's pro'ound interest in United States history. The author's personal interest in the history of the Negro in the New South contributed to the selection of this topic.

The Richmond Negro by the end of the decade,1890-1900, was Virtually powerless politically and was ostracized from white society. All Negro Councilmen and Aldermen had been defeated in the May 1896 municipal elections and had been unsuccessful in regaining their seats. Thus in ten years the Negro had lost almost all political rights and witnessed the paternalistic attitude …

Richmond's Reaction To The Depression Of 1837, Barbara Cahoon

Honors Theses

Depressions affect people and institutions in a variety of ways, from leveling the wealth until a recovery is impossible to showing the weaknesses inherent in the system, thus enabling workable solutions to be a result. The economic emergency of 1837 was such a phenomenon. Much has been written about its effects on a national and state level, but localities have been slighted. All do not necessarily react the same, and consequently the aim of this paper is to show Richmond’s particular response to her poor market conditions, and the political developments of the havoc that occurred from 1837-1842.

The bulk …

A Critical Study Of The Seven Major Victorian Pessimistic Poets, Frank W. Childrey

Master's Theses

The following thesis is a critical study of seven sig­ nificant Victorian pessimistic poets. Having as its basis a seminar paper for Dr. Lewis F. Ball in which four of the Victorian pessimists were discussed, the original study was expanded in order to include the remaining three.

In this critical study, the emphasis has been placed mainly upon the themes characteristic of these pessimistic poets, and the poems that I consider to be the best examples of their various attitudes have been incorporated, either partially or in full, into the text of this thesis. Fur­thermore, though these chapters are not …

L'Animal Dans La Poesie Du Xix Siecle, Carolyn Frances Baker

Master's Theses

Au moyen åge, Marie de France, dans ses Lais, écrit une poésie charmante, animaliere en grande partie. Dans Le Roman de Renard, il s'agit tout entier de l'animal. Avec ces deux oeuvres, la tradition animalière trouve ses débuts, et deux expressions de cette tradition s'établissent: l'une des sentiments mélancoliques, nobles, et élevés qui expriment l'âme; l'autre d'une réalité prosaïque ou populaire.

The Moderate Period Of The Temperance Reform, 1776-1833, Edith C. Burrows

Honors Theses

Temperance is an organized reform began at the end of the American Revolutionary War, its leaders inspired by the ravages dealt by alcoholics to the soldiers and sailors. At first self-control was desired; later self-denial was its dominant theme. Limited as it was, the temperance crusade, led by the aristocracy and the clergy, was naturally gradual in acquiring acceptance and strength. The course of its development from the 1780's until the mid-1830's was one of moderate demands, as compared with the later extremism, and one led by the fiery clerics and their assemblies, compared to the later common lay leadership.

College Life In Ante-Bellum Virginia, Diane Keith Light

Honors Theses

In comparison with contemporary collegiate experiences, college life in ante-bellum Virginia offers many contrasts. The college curriculum, teaching methods, student regulations, and behavior were manifestations of nineteenth century thought. These facets combined to form the existence of the institution and its inhabitants.

An Introduction To The Victorian Woman : A Comparative Study Dealing With Poetical And Historical Sources, Lois Iffert Rudge

Master's Theses

The purpose of studying the Victorian women in poetry has been to find some relation between the historical woman and the literary woman. Louise E. Rorabacher in a similar thesis considered only the novels of the day (Victorian Women in Life and Fiction, University of Illinois, 1942). Her purpose was to determine the validity of the concept of the woman in the novel in terms of historical fact. She concluded that the fictional woman was real, in a narrow, myopic sense, but that she did not reflect the social change. The picture of her social and conservative home life was …

Amoral Characters Beyond Good And Evil In The Nineteenth Century French Novel, Basil Mcvoy Duncan

Master's Theses

Although Franch literature is unique in that every period presents interesting material for research, perhaps the most fascinating is that period which involves the Revolution, Empire, and Restoration. The very proximity of these political developments has had a profound effect on the novelists who lived and wrote at this time, and they have not failed to bequeath their observations on the resulting society. These observations naturally include many consequences not recorded by the historians, consequences which they also as individuals have experienced.

Important among these novelists are Benjamin Constant Stendhal Honore de Balzac, and Paul Bourget who not only reveal …

The Sociological Implications Of Women's Fashions In The Crinoline Era (1840-1860), Margaret Ruth Brinson

Master's Theses

A study of women's clothes shows that they have played their part and have been of great importance in reflecting the thought and culture of the time. A study of fashion fancies and desires has proven fascinating and the Crinoline period had a wealth of charming costumes and ideas.

I have tried to differentiate between the decades, using the thirties as a mere transition period to the time generally referred to as Crinoline. The Appendices have been compiled for the purpose of easier identification of the actual clothing of the period. From the museums, I have taken pictures and obtained …