Maupassant's writings suggest that the monde, demi-monde and brothels, usually conceived as entirely different universes, resemble each other. They are imperfect copies, which can be mistaken for one another. The characters moving in these worlds are essentially false, hypocritical and superficial beings, prisoners of a role which forces them to play a comedy in society. Some adopt to perfection the values and conventions attached to their role, to the extent of no longer differentiating the true from the false, and forgetting their identity. / As the distinction between appearances and reality disappears, the boundaries between the milieux become unclear. Do they exist? Have the boundaries arbitrarily been drawn to preserve social order? If Maupassant implicitly asks these questions, he does not provide an answer. His attitude towards social comedy is rather ambiguous. Though he makes fun of the latter, emphasizing its absurdity and ridicule, he does not condemn it. Spectator and actor of this vast comedy, Maupassant stays detached: of course life is only a game, but why not play it?

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 2005. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 206-214).

Thesis (D. Min.)--Dallas Theological Seminary, 2007. / Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 101-105).

Thesis (D. Min.)--Dallas Theological Seminary, 2007. / Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 101-105).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Sydney, 1973. / Submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy to the Faculty of Arts, University of Sydney. Title from title screen (viewed September 8, 2009) Degree awarded 1973; thesis submitted 1971. Also available in print form.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of North Texas, Dec., 2008. / Title from title page display. Includes bibliographical references.

No description available.

No description available.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of California, San Diego, 2004. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 157-168).

When comparing Ywain and Gawain with its source, Chretien de Troyes' Yvain. many critics concentrate on the dramatic omissions and reductions made by the anonymous English adapter. However, the more subtle differences between the two Arthurian romances also deserve attention. Since the goal of medieval adapters of secular texts was to rethink and reinvent their sources, these changes could reveal further aspects of the originality of Ywain and Gawain. which is generally considered a sophisticated work in its own right. With this study, I hope to demonstrate that some of the differences in the Middle English adaptation may signify an effort on the part of the adapter to present his own vision of society and hierarchy. While it is not possible to situate all the characters on a social scale, the probable hierarchical relation between many of them can be established based on their lineage, tide or social position. The present analysis examines modifications in the interaction between some of these characters—due to the limits of this study, I treat only the cases where at least one female character is concerned—and the role of hierarchical submission. I explore examples from two perspectives: that of the characters of lower rank, whose subordination to social superiors is a basic element of social order, and that of the characters of higher rank, whose standing implies both their own authority and the submission of their inferiors. I found that the English poet diminished or omitted many examples that do not respect hierarchy in Yvain. creating the impression of a more hierarchical society in the adaptation. That overall impression is not changed by the fact that the adapter also introduced or amplified other exceptions to the hierarchy, for they are not of an extreme nature and occur only in a limited context. In fact, these additions seem to follow a logical pattern as well, presenting the image of a society in which rank and power are linked. Consequently, they too may be interpreted as part of a coherently modified version of society and hierarchy created by the author of Ywain and Gawain.