Georgian historiography being an attempt to create a shared and self-congratulatory impression of the past serves as verbal equivalent of a national monument. Ann Radcliffe＇s Castles of Athlin and Dunbayne was writte...Georgian historiography being an attempt to create a shared and self-congratulatory impression of the past serves as verbal equivalent of a national monument. Ann Radcliffe＇s Castles of Athlin and Dunbayne was written during the acme of popularity of gothified histories. This makes the novel a high drama of murder and revenge, usurpation and restoration, love and abduction, cruelty and virtue upholding common people＇s vow of joining hands to fight for ethical cause of avenging oppression against the backdrop of the Scottish highlands. On the one hand, the novel helps in perpetuating nationalist identity among English citizens by acclaiming virtuous, just, and moral act of the rightful feudal Chief Osbert and declaiming in contrast the avarice, oppression and lust of the usurper Malcolm. On the other hand, the self-devastating pride and calm resignation of the highborn women such as Mary and Louisa portrayed in the novel conform and thereby contribute to the notion of the ＂Angel in the House＂. The paper, thus, will examine the role of prevalent sense of honour and values imbibed in the major characters of the novel in bringing justice to the oppressed characters.展开更多
文摘Georgian historiography being an attempt to create a shared and self-congratulatory impression of the past serves as verbal equivalent of a national monument. Ann Radcliffe＇s Castles of Athlin and Dunbayne was written during the acme of popularity of gothified histories. This makes the novel a high drama of murder and revenge, usurpation and restoration, love and abduction, cruelty and virtue upholding common people＇s vow of joining hands to fight for ethical cause of avenging oppression against the backdrop of the Scottish highlands. On the one hand, the novel helps in perpetuating nationalist identity among English citizens by acclaiming virtuous, just, and moral act of the rightful feudal Chief Osbert and declaiming in contrast the avarice, oppression and lust of the usurper Malcolm. On the other hand, the self-devastating pride and calm resignation of the highborn women such as Mary and Louisa portrayed in the novel conform and thereby contribute to the notion of the ＂Angel in the House＂. The paper, thus, will examine the role of prevalent sense of honour and values imbibed in the major characters of the novel in bringing justice to the oppressed characters.
