The Other Victorians' Sexual Desires In The Crimson Petal And The White

This thesis is intended to explore Michel Faber's Neo-Victorian novel The Crimson Petal and the White(2002)from the perspective of the other Victorians' sexual desires mainly with theories related to desire.This thesis hopes to observe and analyze,against the 1870 s Victorian context,the indulgent,the struggling and the absent sexual desires in the novel.By analyzing the underlying reasons and the ways of the main characters' struggle to cope with the confining Victorian values,the novelist Faber's attitude towards such Victorian imagination will further be revealed.The thesis emphasizes that the prevalence of utilitarianism and rationality depreciates human emotion;that the rise of science impacts on religion,leading to a confusion over belief;and that the social roles established in accordance with the orientation of “angel in the house” and separate spheres confine females.The prevalent values and doctrines profoundly affect the other Victorians William,Sugar,Henry and Agnes,which is represented as different attitudes towards sexual desire in the novel.The other Victorians resort to sexual desire,in the way of compromising,negotiating or challenging,to cope with the Victorian values and doctrines confining them,making hard attempts to find a way out.Sexual desire is the approach to compromise on,negotiate with and challenge the Victorian values and doctrines in Faber's Victorian imagination.From the perspective of the unreason impulse,he reflects on and observes the rational values,and contemplates on the shared issues in modern society.