On Elizabeth Gaskell's Country Theme With A Perspective Of Cultural Geography

Mrs. Elizabeth Gaskell lived in an era of great change in Great Britain, writing on the outside happenings of society and her individual struggling of life. Apart from her famous industrial works, she found escape into the"paradise places"of country, as in her hometown, Knutsford. The countryside represented a refuge intimately bound up with art's power of enchantment. Cranford is viewed as a change of subject from the controversial novel Mary Barton. Her last two works of Cousin Phillis and Wives and Daughters are classical works of the country theme. In these novels, she tried to construct a harmonious world for herself and the society.The thesis from a cultural geography perspective, analyzes the structure of landscape and its mutual constitutional relation with people in Gaskell's works. In analyzing the landscape of country, place's structure and space's constitution are very important to the construction and confirmation of the inhabitants'identification. From three aspects of natural, home and public landscapes, the thesis explores the harmonious, stable and ordered life of the old English countryside.In chapter 1, the thesis deals with the environmental landscape. Most of the families have traditional garden as an attachment of home buildings. Family garden, kitchen garden, and orchard are often described as"pastoral home places", where people enjoy their lives. Grand garden and field manifest the power relation of the society. The countryside people have passion for nature and its knowledge in the wilderness, but they hold the traditional ethic of nature in respect and admiration. Hence, the natural space provides a healthy environment for human in the countryside.In chapter 2, the thesis deals with the home landscape. Home is the centre of the inhabitants'lives. Men have controlling power at home with spatial domination. Wives and daughters are home-builders in the physical surroundings as"Angel(s) in the House". Guests and servants have their particular spaces and places, but they are usually treated as family members to enter into their sphere and enjoy the family blessings.In chapter 3, the thesis deals with the public landscape, formed under strong influence of traditions. The countryside people have salons in the lady's parlor where they enjoy each other's company sincerely. They follow the tradition of gentility in their regime to build a fairyland. Buildings of church and Assembly room with public memories help them to construct a community of belonging and acceptance. In the marketing places, comparing to the outside cruel competitive commercialism, traditional culture of friendship and mutual dependence are valued in forming humane and warm public place.But struggles and conflicts did exist in the countryside. The outside industrial and economical power were shaking the traditional values and structures of life, as shown in the different managements of land, the reconstruction of the home space and the maintenance of communal culture. Despite all that, the countryside was still a paradise to live in.