The Rise of the Novel and Individualism
The Rise of the Novel and Individualism
The Novel as a Reflection of Society
The novel is a literary form that focuses on human relationships within a social context, reflecting the era and humanity it depicts.
Five key elements: plot, setting, character, point of view, and theme.
Emphasis on the individual's experience in a specific setting.
The 18th Century: A Favorable Period
The rise of the English novel in the 18th century was due to suitable conditions, aligning with the Age of Enlightenment.
Ian Watt emphasizes formal realism.
The era valued logic, progress, and modernization, influencing the novel's focus.
Realism and the Individual
Realism in novels portrays all varieties of human experience, focusing on the individual's life and experiences.
The individual's reality and actions gain importance.
Modernization and rejection of dogmas influenced the notion of the individual.
Truth is discovered individually through senses.
Formal Realism
Plot: Derives from individual reality, not mythology or fable.
Characterization: Individuals are expressed as unique characters with specific names, not as types.
Time and Space: Time and space provide a complete presentation of the individual.
Language: Plain language is used for authentic narration.
Middle Class Influence
The rise of the middle class shaped the novel's content, focusing on their experiences and tastes.
Novels became more accessible due to simple language.
New readership increased the number of female readers.
Technological and Intellectual Context
Newspapers and the printing press further increased the demand for reading.
The Age of Enlightenment emphasized reason, intellect, philosophy, experiment, and science.
Religious dogmas were questioned, leading to secular content in novels.
The Individual in the 18th Century
Individuals sought personal fulfillment, and rights became a focal point.
Readers preferred realistic stories with ordinary heroes.
The 18th century was a mix of old beliefs and new ideas.
20th Century and Modern Literature
Modernization reached its peak in the 20th century, which also saw social unrest.
Existentialism questioned the reasons for individual existence.
Survival became a key theme, as seen in works like Lord of the Flies.
Individualism
Individualism challenged the established order, asserting the rights of individuals to choose their own course.
Self-sufficiency and freedom are key aspects of individualism.
The individual's happiness is linked to self-sufficiency.
Individualism focuses on the uniqueness and separation of individuals.
Individuals are responsible for their actions.
Egoism vs. Individualism
Individualism in context of characters acting according to their ego, in those cases acting as intended according to individualism becomes hard.
Freedom is essential for individualism.
Island settings in novels reflect individualism.