著者

菊池 せつ子

出版者

武蔵丘短期大学

雑誌

武蔵丘短期大学紀要 (ISSN:13413120)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.20, pp.49-61, 2013-03-31

著者

菊池 せつ子 Setsuko KIKUCHI 武蔵丘短期大学 Musashigaoka College

出版者

武蔵丘短期大学

雑誌

武蔵丘短期大学紀要 (ISSN:13413120)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.16, pp.1-13, 2009-03-31

著者

菊池 せつ子 Setsuko KIKUCHI

出版者

武蔵丘短期大学

雑誌

武蔵丘短期大学紀要 (ISSN:13413120)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.13, pp.1-11, 2006-03-31

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An Ideal Husband, one of Oscar Wilde's four 'comedies of manners' was completed early in 1894 and marks a clear advance in Wilde's career as a dramatist. This drama deals with the past fault, the selling of confidential state information, committed by a young man who is now, as Sir Robert Chiltern, an ambitious and wealthy government minister with an adoring, upright wife, Gertrude and a dazzling career before him. In the meantime, the beauty, but vulgar and Machiavellist, Mrs. Cheveley suddenly arrives from Vienna with a compromising letter to blackmail Chiltern into giving public support for an Argentina canal scheme which will secure her fortune. Lord Goring, Wilde's incarnation extricates Sir Robert from Mrs. Cheveley's clutch and persuades the puritanical Lady Chiltern to forgive her husband and allow him to continue in public life. The play concludes with a seat in the cabinet for Sir Robert, a declaration of love from Lady Chiltern. Robert becomes 'an ideal husband' for his wife. Wilde's major achievement is the creation of 'a dandy,' Lord Goring, whom he places on the pinnacle of the hierarchy of wit at London Society of hypocritical Victorian Age in the end of the 19th century. Goring functions as a commentator, an observer, a philosopher and a judge in the play. Morally, intellectually, and aesthetically superior, he stands, as Wilde describes him in immediate relation to modern life. Wilde through Lord Goring carries a critique of the vulgarity in public life, but gives the work a greater unity than he achieved in the previous comedies. Goring, who has 'mental dandyism' and the morality only through sacrifice, is matched in wit and style by Chiltern's sister, Mabel who learns to adopt a less puritanical code and can understand him. Eventually, the witty lovers, who are true dandies lead to a happy ending, an engagement in the play. Finally, Goring is 'an ideal husband' for Mabel.

著者

菊池 せつ子 Setuko KIKUCHI

出版者

武蔵丘短期大学

雑誌

武蔵丘短期大学紀要 (ISSN:13413120)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.10, pp.3-9, 2002-03-31

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Raymond Carver, master of the American short story, dies in 1988 at the age of fifty, sending his late-blooming and short life. He recovers alcoholic in his late life, obtains the best partner, Tess and comes to carry out a new literary start in the environment blessed as a writer, winning some awards. The theme of "A Small, Good Thing " in Cathedral, the best collection of his short stories will be studied, following Carver's short life and comparing this work with "The Bath" in What We Talk About When We Talk About Love. This story,"The Bath"is marvelously written by Carver's minimal art which stirs memories of Ernest Hemingway. Carver's minimal art achieves maximal effects. In the paradoxically lyric way of the minimalist writer, he has not only made sense of this world, he has given it value. Written in the simplest of styles, mirroring the language of everyday life, this story "The Bath", possesses an awesome mesmerizing power. It suddenly brings about fear of everyday life in its characters, a good couple, Ann and Howard who lead their life peacefully. Out of the moments when good luck runs out, Carver makes the highest art. In "A Small, Good Thing " he succeeds in weaving the illusion that his characters are not only real but representative. This story contains astonishing achievements, which bespeak a writer expanding his range and intentions. It overflows with the danger, excitement, mystery, and possibility of life. Its main characters come to obtain mental enhancement of relation and relief called "brightness" Carver is a writer of astonishing compassion and honesty. His eye sets only on describing and revealing the world as he sees it. His eye is so clear, it almost breaks your heart. This story shows a gifted writer struggling for a larger scope of reference, a finer touch of nuance. There is a strangeness, the husk of a myth in this story.