Victorian Restriction, Restraint, and Escape

ISBN-13: 9783848496235 / Angielski / Miękka / 2012 / 88 str.

Mandy L Dewilde

Opis

The characters of Beatrix Potters beloved childrens stories have transcended the written page and been marketed on childrens dinnerware, bedroom linens, and even on cartons of infant formula. However, beneath these seemingly cheery stories, Potters tales suggest something darker. Her characters wrestle with and attempt to escape from the physical restriction of clothes, confinement in various spaces, and near fatal situations. Potter was notoriously private during her adult life, even at the height of her literary career, and it was not until after her death that we have discovered how her Victorian childhood influenced her childrens tales. The emotionally restrictive nature of Potters childhood trickles down into the physically restrictive predicaments in which her fantasy characters find themselves. Potters parental characters often use physical force to control and admonish their children. As a result, the children are constantly trying to escape from the confines of clothing and smothering spaces. In order to better understand the themes found in Potters tales, it is essential to investigate the incidents of restrictions and escape in Potters own life.

O autorze

Mandy L. DeWilde, M.A., studied English Literature at Grand Valley State University. She currently divides her time between teaching courses on liberal education, composition, creativity, and literature.