Publication Date

2015

Document Type

Dissertation/Thesis

First Advisor

Lukacher, Maryline, 1946-

Degree Name

M.A. (Master of Arts)

Legacy Department

Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures

LCSH

Sand; George; 1804-1876 Elle et lui; Sand; George; 1804-1876 Lucrezia Floriani; Rachilde; 1860-1953 Jongleuse English; Comparative literature; Gender studies; English literature; Romance literature; Sex role--Research; Literature--Sex differences--Research; Comparative literature; English literature

Abstract

This thesis examines the characters of women artists in three novels, Elle et Lui, and Lucrezia Floriani by George Sand, and La Jongleuse by Rachilde. Specifically, it focuses on the outcomes of women artists' choices, considering other elements, such as the comparison between a female and a male artist, sexual ambiguities and their implications, the contrast between friendship and passionate love, and also maternal behavior and motherhood. Moreover, the thesis also takes into consideration the dialectics of power: who is dominated and who dominates? Finally, autobiographical information is given whenever necessary or relevant: both authors are mothers whose relationships with their own mothers were conflicted.;I will argue that for our three heroines, it is truly their secret (their past) that haunts them perpetually, insomuch as it determines their choice to sacrifice a part of their multiple identities. Therese chooses motherhood upon the return of her son Manoel, whom she thought dead, Lucrezia lets herself die by her passionate love for prince Karol and her children become orphans. Eliante opts for art because she is still traumatized by her dead husband.

Comments

Advisors: Maryline Lukacher.||Committee members: Nicole Clifton; Christopher Nissen.

Extent

64 pages

Language

eng

Publisher

Northern Illinois University

Rights Statement

In Copyright

Rights Statement 2

NIU theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from Huskie Commons for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without the written permission of the authors.

Media Type

Text

Download

Share

COinS