I am deciding to write my final paper, on the first book of the semester, and the one I find to be the most controversial, Roxana. After reading this novel, I was left with many unanswered questions. All of these unanswered questions, left me trying to combine these thoughts and find a central theme between them all. The novel was a very controversial piece of literature for its time and still poses many controversial issues today to readers. Despite the more liberal society we live in today, Roxana’s actions can still be viewed as immoral. I was going to look into the many times the pro-feminist views that Roxana displays are prevalent to readers, but I couldn’t accept them, because of how she treats childbearing throughout the novel. Trying to write this proposal, has been very difficult for me. Despite, hearing Professor H’s advice about not being concerned with the length at this point of the assignment, I wanted to make sure I picked a topic that I could explain over 6-8 pages.

I decided to analyze the ironic correlation between Roxana’s immoral behavior, and how she became more financial stable  throughout the novel, despite being a mistress. I will analyze her various relationships, and how they all yielded more wealth for Roxana. I found it very significant that when it came to being a mother, she disregarded how her lifestyle affected her children. Throughout all her adulterous endeavors, she gained many riches but did not go back to rescue her children. She also continues to have children while in “hiding”, which seems very self-centered. I found it extremely ironic that her daughter Susan, is the character brought back to expose her. Susan was one of very few people who knew Roxana’s identity. Susan goes through more extremes to know her mom, than Roxana ever did to know her. Susan explains the “natural” connection she has with Roxana, while Roxana is more worried about her identity being exposed than restoring a relationship with her daughter.

Roxana explains her remorse throughout the novel, but is discredited by her actions. I was wondering if she actually explains her remorse, because she wants the readers of that time to think she dislikes what her life has resorted to.  I also find it ironic that the extent of Roxana’s behavior, affects many of the people around her. She explains the misfortunes of people around her but concludes the novel abruptly. She explains that her life did not have a happy ending but does not give details. This is another pattern from her throughout the novel. Besides her first marriage, she doesn’t mention any negativity that happened in her life. I feel she only mentioned the first series of misfortunes, to justify her actions throughout the novel. She is giving a purpose to her immoral behavior.

In discussing Roxana, I know that I will find many examples in order to analyze the irony between her immoral behavior and her financial success. She had many relationships and many prominent events throughout and in between these relationships, that show this correlation.

[I found this image on Wikipedia, an image of the Battle at Torbay, during the Glorious Revolution. This picture depicts the events leading up to, and occurring in Tristram’s life. The picture is dark and gloomy, and the waters are raging, this can be compared to the disastrous events of Tristrams life.]

After reading the first volume of Tristram Shandy, Sterne wants the readers to understand the severity of his misfortunes, and why Tristram keeps reiterating the importance the series of unfortunate events leading to is conception and following him through his entire life. In Volume I, Tristram explains the actions of his parents during his conception, and describes the importance the circumstances have on who he would become. He describes that his life didn’t have much potential because during his conception his parents weren’t even focused on the act of sexual intercourse. They were more concerned with the routine of winding the clock, which would usually occur consistently before the act of intercourse on Sundays. In Chapter V, Tristram reveals the date of his birth as November 5, 1718. He even expresses that his date of birth was a horrible one, because of the series of other prominent events that happened that day in England. Sterne’s footnote explains that this date has a negative significant meaning because of two reasons. The first reason is that it is the day that the Gunpowder Plot took place in 1605. Guy Fawkes, plotted to blow up the first of the Stuart Kings of England, James I, because he was intolerant of Catholics. He has ordered all Catholic priests to leave England. Amidst storing gunpowder in a house next door, Guy Fawkes and his entourage were caught. This day is celebrated by a bonfire, in which the people of England celebrate the failed attempt on King James I death. Tristram is using the reference to describe the severity of bad luck following his conception to his birth and thereafter. For Tristram to be born on a date where such a heinous crime was planned to be committed towards the leader of his country, is yet another sign of the outcome of his life; and the reason he feels he needs to explain how disastrous his life has turned out. Also in November of 1688, according to the footnote, the Glorious Revolution took place, in which William of Orange landed in Torbay and overthrew King James II of England. This is yet another day signifying the demise of the English government. In reading these footnotes, the readers understand early in the novel the tone of Tristram’s storytelling.  Sterne portrays Tristram’s self-pity, and Tristram is very accepting of his unsuccessful destiny. The circumstances during his conception, cause Tristram to give up hope that he would ever amount to anything in life; despite having a resourceful family, holding the Shandy name. The repetition, of the causes, of what Tristram refers to as his misfortunes, show that that is a main theme of the book. The extreme references in the beginning of the novel to his date of birth, help the reader better understand the severity of events that happen throughout the novel. Tristram describes that these events are directly a result of the circumstances of his conception and birth. The confusion of Tristram’s method of storytelling, make it important for readers to remember this theme while reading the novel. While his method of storytelling may seem random and unorganized to readers, it is crucial to read the footnotes to see the importance of certain references he makes. In reading the novel further, readers can better understand the plot. Keeping in mind that Tristram’s main focus is to reiterate the unfortunate circumstances that have caused his life to be a less than desirable one.  

Sources:

“The Gunpowder Plot of 1605 – History Learning Site.” History Learning Site. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Nov. 2016. <http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/stuart-england/the-gunpowder-plot-of-1605/>

“Guy Fawkes Night.” Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 18 Nov. 2016. <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guy_Fawkes_Night>

“Glorious Revolution.” Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 18 Nov. 2016. <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glorious_Revolution>

In Horace Walpole’s novel, The Castle of Ontranto, he pioneers in joining two works of literature, the romance and the novel. In doing this however, he doesn’t let the reader’s imagination be persuaded too much, by the idea of fantasy. Walpole tries to portray the novelistic aspects of his fantastical story by including a lot of detail to explain supernatural events. In doing this, he is attempting to create a vivid picture of what he is trying to convey to the reader. There is no need for the reader to use their imagination to create pictures of these fantastical creatures, because Walpole gives distinct details of what these creatures look like. “… and the figure, turning slowly round, discovered to Frederic the fleshless jaws and empty sockets of a skeleton, wrapt in a hermits cowl”. (99) Here, Walpole is giving readers the descriptive details they need to mentally picture the ghost that Frederic sees. However, in doing this, he eliminates the obscurity of the ghost to the readers. In turn, he explains the fear and terror Frederic feels from experiencing this ghost, but this causes the readers to lose that same sense of fright. All the details of the ghost makes the reader lose that sublime feeling Walpole created during the anticipation of Frederic meeting Hippolita at the altar. “”Hippolita!” replied a hollow voice…” (99) Walpole did not use any description for the ghost before it was fully seen by Frederic. Walpole’s description of the voice as hollow, allowed the reader to assume that the voice was not that of Hippolita. This allowed the reader to anticipate a revelation of something other than Hippolita being in front of the altar. He also explains, “… the evening gloomy, and overcast”. (99) His description of this dark setting helps readers anticipate something eerie, or extraordinary. Darkness often leads to fear because of the inability to see, and the reader can feel the same fear as Frederic at this moment. As the reader, I felt a sense of suspense for a moment, only for it to be ruined by the overly descriptive details of what the ghost looked like once it was discovered by Frederic. Throughout this novel, Walpole is constantly battling between introducing full-fledged fantasy and realism.