Introduction
In this course, we will explore the theme of marriage and desire
in British and French fiction from 1653 to 1813. The primary texts
will be novels by women writers, but a reader with writings by
both men and women will supplement these readings. In this course
, we will explore how women writers depict the institution of
marriage and the place of desire (within and outside marriage)
during this 150 year-time period. What are the socially sanctioned
domestic "places" for women (e.g. marriage, celibacy,
etc.)? How are these places determined? Do the possibilities for
women change over time? What levels of choice do women have in
determining the courses of their lives? Which choices are not
available to women (e.g. divorce)? How is love defined? What kinds
of education are available to women, and what is seen as the purpose
of education for women? What is the definition of an "accomplished
woman"? When women act in transgressive or subversive ways
(sexual infidelity, promiscuity, etc.), how are these actions
treated within the family and society? What are the material,
cultural and social differences between England and France with
regard to women?
We will study eleven narratives (some of which are quite short and some of which are excerpted from longer works). The number of sessions that we spend on each will depend on the length of the narrative in question. There will be a midterm exam and a final. Students will write s short one-page papers. In addition, each student will work on a research project over the course of the semester. The last 6 sessions of the course will take the form of a symposium during which students will share their research with the rest of the class.
Course materials (all materials will
be in English or English translation):
Books:
Mademoiselle de Scudéry, "Histoire de Sapho" (excerpted from Artamène, ou le Grand Cyrus) (1653)
Cavendish, Margaret. "The Contract." (1656) (40 pp.)
Villedieu, Madame de. The Disorders of Love (1675)
Lafayette, The Princess of Cleves (1678)
Behn, Aphra. Love-Letters Between a Nobleman and His Sister (excerpts) (1684-87)
Graffigny, Letters From a Peruvian Woman (1747)
Riccoboni, The Story of Ernestine (1765)
Burney, Evelina (1778)
Charrière, Letters of Mistress Henley Published by Her Friend (1784)
Edgeworth, Belinda (1806)
Austen, Pride and Prejudice (1813)
Reader: Examples of readings include excerpts from: Marie de Gournay's "The Equality of Men & Women," François Poullain de la Barre's, "The Equality of the Two Sexes," John Gregory's A Father's Legacy to His Daughters, James Fordyce's Sermons to Young Women, Hester Chapone's Letters on the Improvement of the Mind, Addressed to a Young Lady, George Saville's The Lady's New Year's Gift or: Advice to a Daughter, Samuel Richardson's Clarissa, Montesquieu's Persian Letters, Jean-Jacques Rousseau's Emile and Julie, or the New Heloise, Choderlos de Laclos's Dangerous Liaisons, Mercier's "Repugnance for Marriage," Moheau's "On Marriage," Denis Diderot's The Nun, Germaine de Staël's Corrine.
Grade:
Midterm exam: 20%
Final exam: 20%
Participation: 10%
Short papers: 20%
Research project: 30%
Exams: There will be two exams: a midterm and a final. The final will be held at the scheduled final exam time.
Participation: Students will be expected to read all texts and be ready to discuss them in class.
Short papers: Students will be provided with a list of passages from the narratives. Students will then choose six passages (from six different narratives) and write 1 1-page double-spaced typed paper on each of these passages. These papers will be close readings; research will not be required. Students will complete six of these assignments.
Research project: Each student will pick one of the narratives for her/his research project. The components of this project will be: a topic approved by the instructor, an annotated bibliography, an outline, a rough draft, a final draft and an oral presentation. To prepare for this project, we will learn about research methods in the humanities (on-line bibliography searches, library research, MLA style, citation methods, etc.). Students will present their research at the end of the semester with an end-of-course symposium.