The process of self-discovery in Matt Cohen's novels from Korsoniloff to Flowers of Darkness
Thesis (M.A.)--Memorial University of Newfoundland, 1987. English Language and Literature Bibliography: leaves [177]-182. To read a Matt Cohen novel is to experience a sense of futility and despair followed by a faint sense of confidence in human beings to achieve psychological and spiritual maturit...
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ftmemorialunivdc:oai:collections.mun.ca:theses2/82959 2023-05-15T17:23:30+02:00 The process of self-discovery in Matt Cohen's novels from Korsoniloff to Flowers of Darkness Balsom, Edwin James, 1956- Memorial University of Newfoundland. Dept. of English Language and Literature 1987 ii, 182 leaves. Image/jpeg; Application/pdf http://collections.mun.ca/cdm/ref/collection/theses2/id/82959 Eng eng Electronic Theses and Dissertations (32.15 MB) -- http://collections.mun.ca/PDFs/theses/Balsom_EdwinJ.pdf 75399011 http://collections.mun.ca/cdm/ref/collection/theses2/id/82959 The author retains copyright ownership and moral rights in this thesis. Neither the thesis nor substantial extracts from it may be printed or otherwise reproduced without the author's permission. Paper copy kept in the Centre for Newfoundland Studies, Memorial University Libraries Cohen Matt 1942---Criticism and interpretation Identity (Psychology) in literature Text Electronic thesis or dissertation 1987 ftmemorialunivdc 2015-08-06T19:16:40Z Thesis (M.A.)--Memorial University of Newfoundland, 1987. English Language and Literature Bibliography: leaves [177]-182. To read a Matt Cohen novel is to experience a sense of futility and despair followed by a faint sense of confidence in human beings to achieve psychological and spiritual maturity. His characters are constantly bombarded by familial, amorous, or sociological problems, and are often driven to the brink of confusion with only a glimmer of hope for survival and recovery. But survive and recover they do, and with an appetite for life that leads them towards self-knowledge and the possibility for self-discovery. – Regardless of the setting or plot in each novel, the main issue is always the perpetual quest of his pathetic central characters for self-identification. The sense of futility and despair is engendered by their successive failures to recognize themselves as whole individuals amidst the wreckage of their past lives; they cannot seem to discern the detailed characteristics of their ‘real’ selves because they have always practiced self-deception or allowed themselves to wander aimlessly from relationship to relationship without concern for permanence. – The sense of confidence in human beings to achieve maturity comes with the characters’ success in mastering their own fears and emotions, and in penetrating the superficial layers of their psyches to glimpse the nature of their true spiritualities. Although the depth of penetration and the clarity of their perceptions vary with each character, it is the precarious survival of his characters themselves and the possibility for further growth which becomes the trademark for Cohen’s novels. Thesis Newfoundland studies University of Newfoundland Memorial University of Newfoundland: Digital Archives Initiative (DAI) |
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Memorial University of Newfoundland: Digital Archives Initiative (DAI) |
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ftmemorialunivdc |
language |
English |
topic |
Cohen Matt 1942---Criticism and interpretation Identity (Psychology) in literature |
spellingShingle |
Cohen Matt 1942---Criticism and interpretation Identity (Psychology) in literature Balsom, Edwin James, 1956- The process of self-discovery in Matt Cohen's novels from Korsoniloff to Flowers of Darkness |
topic_facet |
Cohen Matt 1942---Criticism and interpretation Identity (Psychology) in literature |
description |
Thesis (M.A.)--Memorial University of Newfoundland, 1987. English Language and Literature Bibliography: leaves [177]-182. To read a Matt Cohen novel is to experience a sense of futility and despair followed by a faint sense of confidence in human beings to achieve psychological and spiritual maturity. His characters are constantly bombarded by familial, amorous, or sociological problems, and are often driven to the brink of confusion with only a glimmer of hope for survival and recovery. But survive and recover they do, and with an appetite for life that leads them towards self-knowledge and the possibility for self-discovery. – Regardless of the setting or plot in each novel, the main issue is always the perpetual quest of his pathetic central characters for self-identification. The sense of futility and despair is engendered by their successive failures to recognize themselves as whole individuals amidst the wreckage of their past lives; they cannot seem to discern the detailed characteristics of their ‘real’ selves because they have always practiced self-deception or allowed themselves to wander aimlessly from relationship to relationship without concern for permanence. – The sense of confidence in human beings to achieve maturity comes with the characters’ success in mastering their own fears and emotions, and in penetrating the superficial layers of their psyches to glimpse the nature of their true spiritualities. Although the depth of penetration and the clarity of their perceptions vary with each character, it is the precarious survival of his characters themselves and the possibility for further growth which becomes the trademark for Cohen’s novels. |
author2 |
Memorial University of Newfoundland. Dept. of English Language and Literature |
format |
Thesis |
author |
Balsom, Edwin James, 1956- |
author_facet |
Balsom, Edwin James, 1956- |
author_sort |
Balsom, Edwin James, 1956- |
title |
The process of self-discovery in Matt Cohen's novels from Korsoniloff to Flowers of Darkness |
title_short |
The process of self-discovery in Matt Cohen's novels from Korsoniloff to Flowers of Darkness |
title_full |
The process of self-discovery in Matt Cohen's novels from Korsoniloff to Flowers of Darkness |
title_fullStr |
The process of self-discovery in Matt Cohen's novels from Korsoniloff to Flowers of Darkness |
title_full_unstemmed |
The process of self-discovery in Matt Cohen's novels from Korsoniloff to Flowers of Darkness |
title_sort |
process of self-discovery in matt cohen's novels from korsoniloff to flowers of darkness |
publishDate |
1987 |
url |
http://collections.mun.ca/cdm/ref/collection/theses2/id/82959 |
genre |
Newfoundland studies University of Newfoundland |
genre_facet |
Newfoundland studies University of Newfoundland |
op_source |
Paper copy kept in the Centre for Newfoundland Studies, Memorial University Libraries |
op_relation |
Electronic Theses and Dissertations (32.15 MB) -- http://collections.mun.ca/PDFs/theses/Balsom_EdwinJ.pdf 75399011 http://collections.mun.ca/cdm/ref/collection/theses2/id/82959 |
op_rights |
The author retains copyright ownership and moral rights in this thesis. Neither the thesis nor substantial extracts from it may be printed or otherwise reproduced without the author's permission. |
_version_ |
1766112852239712256 |