A Study Of Domestic Space In The Victorian Sensation Novel

The sensation novel,as a new genre,appeared in the 1860 s in Victorian England.Since its appearance,it has undergone a process from criticism to compliment,from opposition to approval,gradually establishing itself in the literary history and academic circle.In the past,critics and scholars studied the sensation novel from various approaches,with reference to plot,characters,genres,moral issues and others.However,it is still rare to see the newly rising space theory,the idea of domestic space in particular,is applied to the study of the sensation novel.A main feature of the sensation novel is the representation of numerous initiative actions in plot,and these initiative actions mostly happen in the domestic space.Characters'(subjects)actions conducted by their subjective initiative with variety in domestic space in the sensation novel can be found everywhere.These ever-changing actions conducted by the subjective initiative of subjects open doors for explaining the typical domestic space in the sensation novel.These characters,as subjects,interact with domestic space with their subjective initiative of different stages and their initiative actions,which can expound the diversified representational meanings of domestic space.According to the space theory,the representational meanings of domestic space in the sensation novel can be presented as three stages: obedience and power,awakening and rebellions and conspiracy and evil.This thesis will focus on the discussion of the three stages through an analysis of the interaction between subjects' practical actions directed by their subjective initiative as manifested in the three stages and domestic space,as to evaluate and cognize the changes of domestic space in different stages in the sensation novel.This thesis consists of six parts,including the introduction,four chapters and conclusion.The introduction briefly gives an account of the sensation novel,its major novelists and novels,as well as the domestic and foreign research on the sensation novel.The central argument,methodology,and the significance of the thesis are also presented.Chapter One deals with some concepts and tenets of space theory,and the application of the theory in literary studies.Chapter Two mainly illustrates females acting dutifully and men wielding power--the two aspects of actions directed by their initiative in domestic space in the sensation novel,in order to explain the domestic spatial form with representational meanings of obedience and power.Chapter Three discusses females' awakening and rebellious actions in the sensation novel,conducted by their subjective initiative,to interpret the domestic space with representational meanings of awakening and rebellions.Chapter Four discusses the abominable actions in the sensation novel--all sorts of conscious crimes conducted by criminals' subjective initiative,such as murder,bigamy and embezzlement,and then illustrates domestic spatial form with representational meanings of conspiracy and evil.The conclusion gives an overview and a summary of the main points in the whole thesis.