The Adventures of David Simple: A Study in Contrasts: Studies in Eighteenth-century Literatures - Softcover

In, Fan-yu

Softcover

ISBN 10: 3639125061 ISBN 13: 9783639125061

Publisher: VDM Verlag Dr. Müller, 2009

Synopsis

This book proposes to scrutinize and analyze the contrasts that abound in Sarah Fielding¿s novel, The Adventures of David Simple. Contrasts pervade the novel because they exist in the themes, between the paired protagonists, and between part one and part two. The hero, David Simple, is characterized by his extreme benevolence that rarely exists among us. He seems uncommon by prioritizing friendship over anything else. He is an extremist in point of godliness, innocence, spirituality, sentimentality, and benevolence. With like-minded friends, David sets up a utopian community that grows from four to eleven members, but at last only two female members survive. The annihilation of David¿s secluded utopia brings about the enigma that good seems to go unrewarded. This book attempts to draw on feudalism and capitalism to explain the decline of David¿s utopia by analyzing the patron-client relationship that evolves between David Simple and Mr. Orgueil. To sum up, the threshold of heavenly happiness is death. The prerequisite for an approach to that threshold of permanent happiness is benevolence, which avails to transcend sublunary happiness.

About this title

About the Author

Fan-yu In is a lecturer at Feng Chia University in Taichung, Taiwan, R.O.C. She specializes in English literature and currently pursues a PhD degree from National Changhua University of Education. Her current research interests include Renaissance study, eighteenth-century literature study, and literary criticism.

Edition details

• Publisher: VDM Verlag Dr. Müller
• Publication date: 2009
• ISBN 10: 3639125061
• ISBN 13: 9783639125061
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 96