“The Duchess and the Jeweller” Modernism and Virginia Woolf

Modernization New means of transportation, such as the steamship, the railroad, the automobile, and the airplane. Other technologies, such as the telegraph and the telephone. People were living in large cities, and the world population more than tripled. New means of transportation, such as the steamship, the railroad, the automobile, and the airplane, allowed people in the industrialized West to cover vast distances quickly. Other technologies, such as the telegraph and the telephone, allowed them to communicate instantaneously. People were living in large cities, and the world population more than tripled. These transformations can be characterized as modernization. The image shows workmen leaving Platt’s Works, Oldham (1900).

World War I World War I took place mainly in Europe; it was the most mechanized war to date and killed fifteen million people. Only after the United States joined the war in 1917 were the Allies (France, Britain, Italy) able to repel Germany from the Western Front (in Belgium and France). In the East, Germany and Austria-Hungary drove into Russian territory, which led to the establishment of a Communist dictatorship under Lenin. The image is a stereo view showing UK soldiers at Cambrai, in trenches with a tank in the background. The caption reads “Down in a Shell Crater, We Fought Like Kilkenny Cats.”

World War I World War I took place mainly in Europe It was the most mechanized war to date It killed fifteen million people. After the United States joined the war in 1917 the Allies (France, Britain, Italy) repelled Germany from the Western Front (in Belgium and France). In the East, Germany and Austria-Hungary drove into Russian territory, which led to the establishment of a Communist dictatorship under Lenin. World War I took place mainly in Europe; it was the most mechanized war to date and killed fifteen million people. Only after the United States joined the war in 1917 were the Allies (France, Britain, Italy) able to repel Germany from the Western Front (in Belgium and France). In the East, Germany and Austria-Hungary drove into Russian territory, which led to the establishment of a Communist dictatorship under Lenin. The image is a stereo view showing UK soldiers at Cambrai, in trenches with a tank in the background. The caption reads “Down in a Shell Crater, We Fought Like Kilkenny Cats.”

Communist Russia Russia’s near-defeat contributed to the Revolution of 1917, with Lenin establishing a Communist “dictatorship of the proletariat.” During the succeeding decades, forced collectivization of agriculture and enterprise (which led to widespread famine), as well as purges of people considered enemies of the Communist Party, caused tens of millions of deaths, both in Russia and in other former territories of the Russian Empire, such as the Ukraine. The photograph shows Lenin speaking to the army in Moskow (1920). The caption reads: “Trotski, who was also present at this famous picture, has been removed from this photograph, which happened often in the Soviet Union.” Russia’s near-defeat contributed to the Revolution of 1917, with Lenin establishing a Communist “dictatorship of the proletariat.”

Nazis Nazism arose as a National Socialist Movement and came to power under Adolf Hitler in 1933 The Nazis’ agenda included national rearmament and authoritarian politics held together by the glue of anti-Semitism. Nazism arose as a National Socialist Movement and came to power under Adolf Hitler in 1933; the Nazis’ agenda included national rearmament and authoritarian politics held together by the glue of anti-Semitism. The photograph shows Hitler (October 1938).The caption reads: “Standing in a Mercedes, Hitler drives through the crowd in Cheb, part of the German-populated Sudetenland region of Czechoslovakia, which was annexed to Nazi Germany due to the Munich Agreement. “Held by the German Federal Archive.

The Final Solution Starting in 1941, Hitler authorized the Final Solution, aimed at destroying the Jewish people, exterminating six million Jews and several million Poles, Gypsies, homosexuals, and political enemies of the Nazis. The left image is a photograph of the mass grave at the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp. The caption reads: “Photographed by a British soldier after the camp’s liberation in April 1945. Dr. Fritz Klein, a German doctor at the camp, can be seen in the foreground standing amongst the corpses. The Small Arms Range is visible in the background.” Held by the United Kingdom Armed Forces; Imperial War Museum id# BU 4260. The right image shows starved prisoners at a concentration camp in Ebensee, Austria. The caption states that the camp was reputedly used for “scientific” experiments. Housed in the National Archives of Records and Administration, College Park. Starting in 1941, Hitler authorized the Final Solution, aimed at destroying the Jewish people, exterminating six million Jews and several million Poles, Gypsies, homosexuals, and political enemies of the Nazis.

Great Depression Beginning on October 24, 1929, the stock market crash heralded the Great Depression. Within a few years, a third of American workers were unemployed; hunger and joblessness spread throughout the industrialized world. Franklin Roosevelt was able to reverse the worst effects of the Depression in the United States with the New Deal, which included public works spending and the introduction of Social Security. The image shows people waiting for relief checks during the Great Depression in Calipatria, California (March 1937).

Great Depression Beginning on October 24, 1929, the stock market crash heralded the Great Depression. Within a few years, a third of American workers were unemployed; hunger and joblessness spread throughout the industrialized world. Franklin Roosevelt was able to reverse the worst effects of the Depression in the United States with the New Deal, which included public works spending and the introduction of Social Security. Beginning on October 24, 1929, the stock market crash heralded the Great Depression. Within a few years, a third of American workers were unemployed; hunger and joblessness spread throughout the industrialized world. Franklin Roosevelt was able to reverse the worst effects of the Depression in the United States with the New Deal, which included public works spending and the introduction of Social Security. The image shows people waiting for relief checks during the Great Depression in Calipatria, California (March 1937).

World War II World War II began after Hitler’s military force invaded Poland in 1939. Germany allied itself with Fascist Italy and authoritarian Japan, which had earlier conquered Korea and occupied China. The United States entered the war after the surprise Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. World War II began after Hitler’s military force invaded Poland in 1939. Germany allied itself with Fascist Italy and authoritarian Japan, which had earlier conquered Korea and occupied China. The United States entered the war after the surprise Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor (December 7, 1941). The photograph shows a wide view of the destruction at Pearl Harbor. The caption reads: “Panorama view of Pearl Harbor, during the Japanese raid on 7 December 1941, with anti-aircraft shell bursts overhead.” The photograph looks southwesterly from the hills behind the harbor. Large columns of smoke in the lower right center is from the burning USS Arizona. Smoke further to the left is from the destroyers Shaw, Cassin, and Downes, in dry dock at the Pearl Harbor Navy Yard. Official US Navy photograph (1941).

Modernism Linked political crises with the crisis of representation. break with literary conventions including plots, verse forms, narrative techniques, and the boundaries of genre Charles Darwin - the animal nature of human existence is explored Karl Marx - the struggle between social classes is the main drive of history Friedrich Nietzsche - attacked a belief in God and the conviction that humans are fundamentally rational Sigmund Freud - stress on the unconscious and power of sexual and destructive instincts Writers had significant mobility, often studying or working away from their native residences. A literary movement that linked political crises with the crisis of representation. These individuals broke away from conventions, including plots, verse forms, narrative techniques, and the boundaries of genre, and, reflecting a “crisis of reason,” they challenged the ability of human reason to understand the world. This was largely based on nineteenth-century philosophy by Charles Darwin (through natural selection, the animal nature of human existence is explored), Karl Marx (the struggle between social classes is the main drive of history), Friedrich Nietzsche (who attacked a belief in God and the conviction that humans are fundamentally rational), and Sigmund Freud (stress on the unconscious and power of sexual and destructive instincts). Writers had significant mobility, often studying or working away from their native residences.

Scientific Advances Scientists found that the natural world does not necessarily function in the way it appears to. Albert Einstein’s theory of relativity and other discoveries, such as radioactivity, X-rays, and quantum theory, presented counterintuitive understanding of the physical universe that conflicted with classical Netwonian physics and even common sense. Scientists found that the natural world does not necessarily function in the way it appears to. Albert Einstein’s theory of relativity and other discoveries, such as radioactivity, X-rays, and quantum theory, presented counterintuitive understanding of the physical universe that conflicted with classical Netwonian physics and even common sense. The image is a photograph of Einstein with Robert Oppenheimer (“father of the atomic bomb”) at the Institute for Advanced Study. Courtesy of the US Government Defense Threat Reduction Agency.

Novelists The great modern novelists, including Conrad, Proust, Joyce, and Woolf wrote realistic works in the manner of Flaubert or Tolstoy. However, they shifted toward interiority and focused on the limited perspective of an individual, often idiosyncratic character. The great modern novelists, including Conrad, Proust, Joyce, and Woolf wrote realistic works in the manner of Flaubert or Tolstoy. They did not, however, balance their attention between the outside world and the inner world of their characters, instead shifting toward interiority and focus on the limited perspective of an individual, often idiosyncratic character. Photograph of Virginia Woolf (1902) by George Charles Beresford.

Asia Asian writers embraced Communist or Socialist politics and a related style of politically engaged fiction. Their works—as in Ryunosuke, Jun’ichiro, Fusako and Man-sik, often blend modern techniques with old folklore or cultural practices of earlier Japan to make a political statement. Asian writers embraced Communist or Socialist politics and a related style of politically engaged fiction. Their works—as in Ryunosuke, Jun’ichiro, Fusako and Man-sik, often blend modern techniques with old folklore or cultural practices of earlier Japan to make a political statement. The photograph shows Akutagawa Ryunosuke, taken in the 1920s.

Negritude During the 1930s, a group of African and Caribbean intellectuals, led by Léopold Senghor and Aimé Césaire, met in Paris (where they were pursuing higher education) and formed the Negritude movement, which celebrated the culture of Africa and the African Diaspora to provide leadership for decolonized states.

Test Your Knowledge Which event had arguably the greatest impact on the early twentieth century? the Russian Revolution of 1917 the Great Depression the Second World War the First World War Answer: D Section: Modernity and Conflict in World History, 1900–1945 Feedback: While each of these events was world changing, nothing compared to the destabilizing impact of the First World War. Death and destruction on that scale had previously been unknown—even unimaginable—for most people. While each of these events was world changing, nothing compared to the destabilizing impact of the First World War. Death and destruction on that scale had previously been unknown—even unimaginable—for most people.

Test Your Knowledge Modernist artists depended primarily on which of the following? Reason Experimentation Science tradition Literature across the globe responded to world-changing events (world wars, revolutions, financial collapse) with an unprecedented wave of artistic experimentation, as though the previous modes and forms of art were simply no longer able to capture, recreate, or express the shocking realities of the modern world. Answer: B Section: Modernism in World Literature Feedback: Literature across the globe responded to world-changing events (world wars, revolutions, financial collapse) with an unprecedented wave of artistic experimentation, as though the previous modes and forms of art were simply no longer able to capture, recreate, or express the shocking realities of the modern world.

Test Your Knowledge Fiction that includes references to itself is called: __________ . Metafiction Hyperfiction stream of consciousness fiction experiential fiction Answer: A Section: Modernism in World Literature Feedback: A distinguishing characteristic of much modern art (though this continued to be true for some postmodern works as well) is the degree to which it made explicit reference to itself as a work of art. This is called metafiction when it occurs in writing. A story or novel, for example, might address the reader as he or she is in the act of reading. Thus the very act of consuming art (whether reading, listening, or watching) becomes part of the art being consumed. (This technique is also known as self-referentiality.) A story or novel, for example, might address the reader as he or she is in the act of reading. Thus the very act of consuming art (whether reading, listening, or watching) becomes part of the art being consumed. (This technique is also known as self-referentiality.)

Virginia Woolf (1882-1941) Daughter of Sir Leslie Stephen, a notable historian, author, and critic and Julia Stephen, a renowned beauty. Was raised in an environment filled with the influences of Victorian literary society. Henry James, George Henry Lewes, and James Russell Lowell were among the visitors to the house. She was taught the classics and literature. The sudden death of her mother in 1895, when Virginia was 13, and that of her half-sister Stella two years later, led to the first of Virginia's several nervous breakdowns. The death of her father in 1904 provoked her most alarming collapse and she was briefly institutionalized. Virginia Stephen married writer Leonard Woolf on 10 August 1912. They were closely bonded in their marriage and professionally (founders of Hogarth Press). The onset of World War II, the destruction of her London home during the Blitz, and the cool reception given to her biography of her late friend Roger Fry all worsened her condition until she was unable to work. On 28 March 1941, Woolf put on her overcoat, filled its pockets with stones, walked into the River Ouse near her home, and drowned herself.

Feminism and her work Woolf is known for her precise evocations of states of mind and body. She explored (directly in her essays and indirectly in her novels and short stories) the situation of women in society, the construction of gender identity and the predicament of the woman writer. Though unmarried, she lived with several men (some of them openly homosexuals), challenging the social conventions. Her poetic use of language brings to life the concrete, sensuous details of everyday experience. She explores the structures of consciousness. Her focus was not on the object under observation, but on the observer’s perception of it.

The Duchess and the Jeweller

A mirror of English soceity It was an age of transition. The high-ups (Duchess) were coming down because of their moral decadence and the commoners (Jeweler) were taking lead in spite of their obsessions. Oliver Bacon had become so important that each day he received invitation cards from the aristocracy of the English society. Even the Duchess of Lambourne waited for his pleasure outside his private office. The Duchess was always in financial difficulties because of her moral decadence. She gambled. To arrange for the money she sold fake pearls to Oliver twice but this was not all. She had so much moral decadence that she used Diana, her daughter, to entrap Oliver Bacon.

How did the Duchess induce Oliver Bacon into buying fake pearls? Friendly address - she started calling him ‘dear Mr. Bacon’. Then, she called him an ‘old friend’ four times. Then she addressed him by his first name. Using her daughters - she mentioned the name of her daughters and told him that she was selling the pearl only for them. She knew that Oliver loved Diana. Taking advantage of his inferiority complex - She invited him to a party at her estate. She induced him by telling him that the Prime Minister, his Minister, his Royal Highness, and Diana would be there. She cries.

What obsession did Oliver Bacon have in spite of becoming one of the richest jewelers of England? We find that the jeweler had two obsessions. Firstly, he wanted more and more wealth. It appears that his greed did not have an end. Secondly, he had inferiority complex and wanted to move among aristocratic circles to satisfy this complex.

“They were friends, yet enemies; he was master, she was mistress; each cheated the other, each needed the other, each feared the other.” Oliver Bacon was a commoner. Later, he became the richest jeweler of England. On the other hand, the duchess was the member of the aristocracy by birth. Therefore, there was a great class difference between the two. These two classes could never be friends. However, the duchess was forced to call him an ‘old friend’ because of her moral decadence and financial problems. Oliver became the richest jeweler of England by using fair and unfair means. Therefore, he was a master in the sense that he was a great cheat. On the other hand, the Duchess was a cheat too. She induced the jeweler into buying the fake pearls. Both needed each other. She needed him for money and he needed her to go the party to be with her daughter. In spite of that, both feared each other because each knew the secrets of the other.

Group discussion Group 1: Morality Group 2: Class struggles Group 3: Women’s rights