Jennie Gheradt by Theorore Drieser
FACULTY OF ARTS AND PHILOSOPHY Academic year 2009-2010
Ethnicity in Theodore Dreiser‟s Jennie Gerhardt
Dissertation to achieve the degree of Master in English and Dutch Language and Literature by Jorn Strubbe
Promotor: Dr. M. Boyden
Acknowledgments
Theodore Dreiser led a very turbulent, albeit interesting, life and to be able to study an aspect of his writing – the ethnicity that is or is not to be found in his work – has truly been a pleasure. This dissertation would not be what it is today without the help of Dr. M. Boyden, my promoter, who provided me with ideas, sources and the necessary advice to complete this work.
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Contents
Acknowledgments.....................................................................................................................2 Contents.....................................................................................................................................3 1. Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 4 1.1. General introduction ........................................................................................................ 4 1.2. Dreiser and American Realism/Naturalism..................................................................... 7 1.2.1. Dreiser and the modern United States ...................................................................... 8 1.2.2. Dreiser and detail ................................................................................................... 10 1.2.3. Dreiser and female characters ................................................................................ 11
2. Dreiser: a concise reception history .................................................................................. 14 2.1. Dreiser‟s career ............................................................................................................. 14 2.2. Criticism during his
Ethnicity in Theodore Dreiser‟s Jennie Gerhardt
Dissertation to achieve the degree of Master in English and Dutch Language and Literature by Jorn Strubbe
Promotor: Dr. M. Boyden
Acknowledgments
Theodore Dreiser led a very turbulent, albeit interesting, life and to be able to study an aspect of his writing – the ethnicity that is or is not to be found in his work – has truly been a pleasure. This dissertation would not be what it is today without the help of Dr. M. Boyden, my promoter, who provided me with ideas, sources and the necessary advice to complete this work.
2
Contents
Acknowledgments.....................................................................................................................2 Contents.....................................................................................................................................3 1. Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 4 1.1. General introduction ........................................................................................................ 4 1.2. Dreiser and American Realism/Naturalism..................................................................... 7 1.2.1. Dreiser and the modern United States ...................................................................... 8 1.2.2. Dreiser and detail ................................................................................................... 10 1.2.3. Dreiser and female characters ................................................................................ 11
2. Dreiser: a concise reception history .................................................................................. 14 2.1. Dreiser‟s career ............................................................................................................. 14 2.2. Criticism during his
Bibliography: Wilson, Kathryn, and Jennifer Coval. City of Unbrotherly Love: Violence in Nineteenth-Century Philadelphia. The historical society of Pennsylvania with the Balch Institute for ethnic studies. n.d. Web. 12 Jul. 2010.