Master's Theses

Department

English

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Abstract

The primary purpose of this thesis is to show Golding's and Swift's disapproval of those philosophies based on reason and science that convince people they can solve all of their problems with technology. Swift lived during the Age of Enlightenment when the insistence on reason as the sole means for salvation was at its height. Golding lives at a time when the optimistic philosophies of Darwin, Marx, and Freud have convinced people their problems are either not their fault because of evolution, or are understandable through psychotherapy and, therefore, can be cured. Both authors contend in their novels that optimism based on reason and science will eventually prevent the individual from considering his own being as the source of evil, a tendency which will lead to moral irresponsibility.

Keywords

Literary criticism, American literature, Authors, William Golding (1911-1993), British novelists, Comparison

Advisor

Dr. Samuel J. Sackett

Date of Award

Summer 1966

Document Type

Thesis - campus only access

Rights

© The Author(s)

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