The Convent: A Place of Refuge in Les Misérables and Histoire de ma vie

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dc.contributor.authorFleming, Teresa Appleen
dc.contributor.committeechairWatson, Ronda J.en
dc.contributor.committeememberShryock, Richard L.en
dc.contributor.committeememberJohnson, Sharon P.en
dc.contributor.departmentForeign Languagesen
dc.date.accessioned2020-04-11T08:00:36Zen
dc.date.available2020-04-11T08:00:36Zen
dc.date.issued2020-04-10en
dc.description.abstractIn the nineteenth century, amidst the rise of anti-Catholicism in the Western world, narratives served as a persuasive medium to influence the reading public. Anti-clerical sentiment was conveyed in various forms of text, often depicting the Catholic convent as a place of sinister confinement. This thesis offers an alternative representation of the French nineteenth-century convent. Considering the prevailing social, economic, and political environment in France, along with the conception of social space, I argue that the convent represents a place of sanctuary and opportunity for some women and girls. Further, in view of Victor Hugo's Les Misérables, I examine the representation of the convent as a place for rebirth. Likewise, in analyzing George Sand's autobiography Histoire de ma vie, I explore the representation of the convent as a haven for reviving creativity. Thus, by close reading and critical examination of these literary representations, I contend that the nineteenth-century convent can provide a place of refuge.en
dc.description.abstractgeneralFollowing the French Revolution of 1789, two opposing ideologies gathered momentum in France: monasticism and anti-clericalism. Beginning in 1815, enlistment of nuns in religious congregations doubled every fifteen years until the end of the century. During this period, anti-clericalism remained a potent political and social force. As with any institution of power, narratives served as a persuasive medium to influence the reading public. Anti-clerical sentiment was conveyed in various forms of text, often depicting the Catholic convent as a place of sinister confinement. These diverse depictions of the convent as a nefarious enclosure seem to contradict the growth and appeal of female religious orders during the epoch. This thesis offers an alternative representation of the French nineteenth-century convent. Partially owing to prevailing social, economic, and political structures that limited women's opportunities, convents attracted women from middle- or upper-class families who desired to serve in the public domains of healthcare and education. Considering this environment in France, along with the conception of social space, I argue that the convent represents a place of sanctuary and opportunity for some women and girls. Further, in view of Victor Hugo's Les Misérables, I examine the representation of the convent as a place for rebirth. Likewise, in analyzing George Sand's autobiography Histoire de ma vie, I explore the representation of the convent as a haven for reviving creativity. Thus, by close reading and critical examination of these literary representations, I contend that the nineteenth-century convent can provide a place of refuge.en
dc.description.degreeMaster of Artsen
dc.format.mediumETDen
dc.identifier.othervt_gsexam:24231en
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10919/97590en
dc.publisherVirginia Techen
dc.rightsIn Copyrighten
dc.rights.urihttp://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/en
dc.subjectFrench nineteenth-century conventen
dc.subjectsocial spaceen
dc.subjectrefugeen
dc.subjectVictor Hugoen
dc.subjectGeorge Sanden
dc.subjectmonasticismen
dc.subjectanti-clericalismen
dc.subjectreligieusesen
dc.titleThe Convent: A Place of Refuge in Les Misérables and Histoire de ma vieen
dc.typeThesisen
thesis.degree.disciplineForeign Languages, Cultures, and Literaturesen
thesis.degree.grantorVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State Universityen
thesis.degree.levelmastersen
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Artsen

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