“Open Thy Byron”: George Eliot’s Views on British Imperialism in Felix Holt, the Radical
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The controversy surrounding George Eliot’s connection to British imperialism has intensified, particularly following Edward Said’s accusation in his seminal work, Orientalism (1979) where he labeled Eliot as an Orientalist. While further exploration of Eliot’s biographical information has reinforced the perception of an ‘imperialist’ Eliot, certain critics resist reducing Eliot to this label, highlighting her evolving critique of British imperialism. Given such contentious claims regarding Eliot’s relationship to British imperialism, this article argues that Eliot’s ambivalent perspectives on imperialism create ideological tension within her literary works, prompting readers to re-evaluate Said’s stringent convictions. Scholars have observed that women writers, particularly those in the nineteenth century, occupied a more nuanced position concerning empire. Expanding the study of Eliot’s relationship with imperialism, this article aims to scrutinize Felix Holt, the Radical (1866) by emphasizing Eliot’s critique of British imperialism. I argue that Eliot deliberately positions Harold Transome, the protagonist, from the East to bring up overlooked margins into the forefront within the heartland of England. Additionally, I argue that, by drawing a parallel between Harold and a Byronic Childe Harold, Eliot not only critiques the prevailing disdain for Byron among Victorian intellectuals, but also confronts the dominant colonialist narratives associated with British imperialism.
Abstract
The controversy surrounding George Eliot’s connection to British imperialism has intensified, particularly following Edward Said’s accusation in his seminal work, Orientalism (1979) where he labeled Eliot as an Orientalist. While further exploration of Eliot’s biographical information has reinforced the perception of an ‘imperialist’ Eliot, certain critics resist reducing Eliot to this label, highlighting her evolving critique of British imperialism. Given such contentious claims regarding Eliot’s relationship to British imperialism, this article argues that Eliot’s ambivalent perspectives on imperialism create ideological tension within her literary works, prompting readers to re-evaluate Said’s stringent convictions. Scholars have observed that women writers, particularly those in the nineteenth century, occupied a more nuanced position concerning empire. Expanding the study of Eliot’s relationship with imperialism, this article aims to scrutinize Felix Holt, the Radical (1866) by emphasizing Eliot’s critique of British imperialism. I argue that Eliot deliberately positions Harold Transome, the protagonist, from the East to bring up overlooked margins into the forefront within the heartland of England. Additionally, I argue that, by drawing a parallel between Harold and a Byronic Childe Harold, Eliot not only critiques the prevailing disdain for Byron among Victorian intellectuals, but also confronts the dominant colonialist narratives associated with British imperialism.
참고문헌 (22)
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