Four Walls

Dualistic Principles Evident in A Tale of Two Cities detailed Critical Study  Definition: According to the Oxford Dictionary, “ An instance of opposition or contrast between two concepts or two aspects of something is called dualism” ( https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/duality ). Duality implies the simultaneous existence of opposing forces. In A Tale of Two Cities, duality is highlighted through the juxtaposition of polar opposites. These polar opposites are either two abstract values or ideals that oppose each other or characters that symbolize two opposing traits. The dualistic forces evident in A Tale of Two Cities areas follows:

Streaks of Realism in A Tale of Two Cities overview The portrayal of historical or fictional events in an unidealized or lifelike manner is called realism.  Sometimes, novelists provide a glimpse into a particular moment in history through the creative or fictional representation of significant historical incidents. In A Tale of Two Cities, the events prior to and after the French revolution have been delineated in graphic detail. For the most part, the numerous events and the characters featured in this novel appear lifelike or realistic. The Following discussion will serve to reinforce this point:

The aspect of Resurrection in Tale of Two Cities Critical Study  Definition: According to the Cambridge Dictionary, resurrection is “the act of bringing something that had disappeared or ended, back into use or existence”. Resurrection implies revival and rebirth.  (https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/resurrection)

Critical Study of Tess of D'Urbervilles Evolutionary Meliorism Instead of viewing himself as a pessimist, Hardy regarded himself as an “evolutionary meliorist” (Bailey 569). In a conversation with William Archer, Hardy claimed that his “practical philosophy had been melioristic (rather than pessimistic) and that his books had been a plea against man's inhumanity to man — to woman, and to the lower animals” (319). According to The American Heritage Dictionary, meliorism refers to “The belief that the human condition can be improved through concerted effort” (n.p). Meliorism also refers to “The belief that there is an inherent tendency toward progress or improvement in the human condition” ( https://www.yourdictionary.com/meliorism). In other words, Hardy believed that the human plight can be improved through consistent, dedicated effort.

Realism in Tess of the d’Urbervilles summary   • The novel authentically portrays the challenges, anxieties, and the social milieu or social conditions prevalent in the Victorian era. E.g – a) Tess’s plight b) Financial challenges encountered by the Durbeyfields and Izzy, Marian and Retty c) The social privileges enjoyed by the rich such as Alec. • Third-person narrative • Life-like characterization- portrays believable human behavior Credit goes to Ma'am Saima Najib .

Gender Disparity highly Evident in Victorian Society Tess of D'Urbervilles There was a wide difference between men and women in Victorian society in terms of societal expectations. Moreover, in the Victorian era, there were different moral standards for both men and women.  The term disparity refers to difference or inequality. The various forms of gender disparity in Tess of the d’Urbervilles are discussed below: 

Evolutionary Meliorism in Victorian Society  in the Tess of D'Urbervilles Instead of viewing himself as a pessimist, Hardy regarded himself as an “evolutionary meliorist” (Bailey 569). In a conversation with William Archer, Hardy claimed that his “practical philosophy had been melioristic (rather than pessimistic) and that his books had been a plea against man's inhumanity to man — to woman, and to the lower animals” (319). According to The American Heritage Dictionary, meliorism refers to “The belief that the human condition can be improved through concerted effort” (n.p). Meliorism also refers to “The belief that there is an inherent tendency toward progress or improvement in the human condition” ( https://www.yourdictionary.com/meliorism). In other words, Hardy believed that the human plight can be improved through consistent, dedicated effort. 

Irony/wit and Romance in Jane Austen Irony According to The Penguin Dictionary of Literary Terms and Literary Theory, “Most forms of irony involve the perception or awareness of a discrepancy or incongruity between words and their meaning, or between actions and their results, or between appearance and reality. The two basic kinds of irony are verbal irony and irony of the situation (for the latter one may substitute, on occasions, the irony of behavior). At its simplest, verbal irony involves saying what one does not mean. Johnson defined it as a mode of speech in which meaning is contrary to the words.

Critical overview in Pride and Prejudice Study Guide Examples of Irony in Pride and Prejudice Verbal Irony 1. “It is a truth universally acknowledged….wife” (Austen 3) - from Chapter 1. 2. Elizabeth makes the following comment about Mr. Darcy to Mr. Wickham in Chapter 41: “In essentials, I believe, he is very much what he ever was” (Austen 192).  3. In Chapter 4, Mrs. Hurst and Caroline Bingley are portrayed in the following manner: “They were rather handsome, had been educated in one of the…entitled to think well of themselves, and meanly to others” (Austen 12, 13). The irony resides in the fact that the readers soon realize that the sisters are proud, snobbish and are unrefined since they do not always resort to social propriety and show an immense degree of malice toward the Bennets.

Realism in Pride and Prejudice and its examples 1. Pride and Prejudice reflect everyday life, observations, practical concerns, feelings, responses, and desires. Austen’s fictional world and her characters are believable and true to life.  2. Similar to realist fiction, Austen highlights the issues of her contemporary society such as the socio-economic dynamics surrounding marriage and the unjust entailment law prevalent in Regency England.

Examples of Irony in Pride and Prejudice The irony in Pride and Prejudice and its examples Verbal Irony 1. “It is a truth universally acknowledged….wife” (Austen 3) - from Chapter 1. 2. Elizabeth makes the following comment about Mr. Darcy to Mr. Wickham in Chapter 41: “In essentials, I believe, he is very much what he ever was” (Austen 192). 

Overview of  Pessimism in Tess of the d’Urbervilles  According to Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary , pessimism refers to a “feeling that bad things will happen or that something will not be successful” (1129). A pessimistic worldview implies that the worst will happen or that evil will ultimately prevail over goodness. Following are some of the instances in Tess of the d’Urbervilles that reinforce a pessimistic worldview.

An overview of Exploration of the Fatalistic Philosophy Highlighted in Tess of d'Urbervilles   According to Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary , fatalistic refers to a belief in the notion that “events are decided by fate and that one cannot control them” or prevent “them from happening” (558). A person who terms himself as a fatalist believes that the circumstances of one’s life are beyond one’s control and hence, it is fate rather than free will that determines the outcome of one’s actions or the course of one’s life. In his essay, Thomas Hardy’s Philosophical Outlook , Andrzej Diniejko claims that Hardy was a fatalist “who was aware that man's life is controlled by some inexplicable external force, which he sometimes calls” fate ( http://www.victorianweb.org/authors/hardy/diniejko3.html ). David Cecil also maintains that Hardy’s novels highlight, “A struggle between a man on the one hand and, on the other, an omnipotent and indifferent Fate…That is Hardy’s interpr