Radcliffe

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

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

The Castles of Athlyn and Dunblayne was The Castles of Athlyn and Dunblayne was Ann’s first novel, and it was published in Ann’s first novel, and it was published in 1789. Ann begins to write a tour diary when 1789. Ann begins to write a tour diary when she and William tour Holland, Germany, and she and William tour Holland, Germany, and the English lake region (Wellington). This the English lake region (Wellington). This diary eventually developed into a tour book. diary eventually developed into a tour book. Her tour book focused on the beauty of Her tour book focused on the beauty of nature. When Radcliffe was about 33 years nature. When Radcliffe was about 33 years old she wrote “The Italian” which was her last old she wrote “The Italian” which was her last novel. Radcliffe was plagued with respiratory novel. Radcliffe was plagued with respiratory and digestive problems, and eventually died and digestive problems, and eventually died on the 7th of February in 1823 (Baros).on the 7th of February 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 conservative values through her gothic stories. Each poem her gothic stories. Each poem when examined alone is similar when examined alone is similar to the classic love story. to the classic love story. However, when you look at her However, when you look at her work as a whole she seems to work as a whole she seems to imply that the remedy to the imply that the remedy to the ills of society is conservative ills of society is conservative values (Durant, 520). values (Durant, 520).

Oeuvre (cont.)Oeuvre (cont.)

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


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


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


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

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

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

QuotationsQuotations

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

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

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

Quotations (cont.)Quotations (cont.)

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

Quotations (cont.)Quotations (cont.)

““The passions are the The passions are the seeds of vices as well seeds of vices as well as of virtues, from as of virtues, from which either may which either may spring, accordingly as spring, accordingly as they are nurtured. they are nurtured. Unhappy they who Unhappy they who have never been have never been taught the art to taught the art to govern them!” govern them!” (Radcliffe, “The (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/3268-3268/3268-h/3268-h.htm#2HCH0026h.htm#2HCH0026

http://www.litgothic.com/http://www.litgothic.com/Authors/radcliffe.htmlAuthors/radcliffe.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