Graduation Year
2017
Date of Submission
4-2017
Document Type
Open Access Senior Thesis
Degree Name
Bachelor of Arts
Department
Literature
Reader 1
Christine Crockett
Terms of Use & License Information
Rights Information
© 2017 Griffin F Ferre
Abstract
Embedded within various works of Eighteenth-Century literature lie themes regarding how the protagonists of these stories pursue their own versions of happiness. This thesis examines how characters from a wide variety of Eighteenth-Century novels engage with their surroundings, often resisting the dominant social structures of the time, to fashion more fulfilling lives for themselves. From Robinson Crusoe to Elizabeth Bennet to Frankenstein's monster, these characters come from a wide variety of backgrounds but all reveal several unifying themes. They seek out personal connections rather that striving to fulfill antiquated social expectations and they focus on their own agency, rather than circumstances out of their control. Their respective journeys are often fraught with peril, but each one is a journey worth embarking on.
Recommended Citation
Ferre, Griffin, "The Adventure of a Lifetime: Examining Life Lessons in Eighteenth Century Literature" (2017). CMC Senior Theses. 1678.
https://scholarship.claremont.edu/cmc_theses/1678
