Thesis (M.A.)--Kutztown University, 1988. / Source: Masters Abstracts International, Volume: 45-06, page: 2837. Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 344-357).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1964. / Typescript. Vita. Abstracted in Dissertation abstracts, v. 25 (1965) no. 7, p. 4155-6. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references.

Before we can judge a writer, we must tentatively decide upon the appropriate criteria by which to measure his achievement. Various critics have praised Nathanael West for the exact things for which others have damned him. This study is an attempt to clarify the nature of West's work, and thereby to clarify the grounds upon which he must be judged. The nature of his fictional world is crucial. This study puts West's images, which are largely responsible for the creation of the fictional world and its characters, into five groups, each of which exhibits a separation of qualities. After the results of West's divided images are seen, the study considers the function of plot within West's four works. Essentially, the plot, like the extremely limited characterization, enables us to see the inter-relationships within the fictional world and, at the same time, prevents us from becoming emotionally involved with the fictional world and characters as we normally do in, novels. Thus West is seen as a satirist who, in his best works, Miss Lonelyhearts and The Day of the Locust, uses the conventions of the novel with considerable skill to show us the all-pervasiveness of illusion in life. But, unlike most satirists, West provides no alternatives and does not even provide a sense of “what ought to be" in his work. He merely records his vision in such a way that we can see and are compelled to acknowledge the nature of his vision of life and of existence. West uses his plots to order his images into a coherent, logical pattern which sets forth the consequences of man's being divided within and among himself. When we see that West is primarily a satirist working within the conventions of the novel, we can understand the flatness of his characters, their divided natures, the horrible ironies of the plot, the cryptic treatment of events, and the concentration upon images. We can, in fact, see that West was an excellent satirist who succeeded in his attempt to use the novel as a vehicle for satire. / Arts, Faculty of / English, Department of / Graduate

No description available.

"Today, more than seventeen years after his death, West's novels are beginning to appear in selection lists, and his reputation as a writer has been firmly established. The purpose of this paper is to present evidence in support of the contention that West's novels now deserve a place on the shelves of every major academic and public library. The body of the study is concerned with the growth of his literary reputation and with the recent accelerated interest in his works as indicated by the appearance of their titles in creditable selection aids and other important reference tools"--Introduction. / Carbon copy of typescript. / "August, 1958." / "Submitted to the Graduate Council of Florida State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science." / Advisor: Sarah Rebecca Reed, Professor Directing Paper. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Indiana University, Dept. of English, 2007. / Title from PDF t.p. (viewed Nov. 18, 2008). Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 68-02, Section: A, page: 0571. Adviser: Thomas Foster.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Washington, 1995. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves [276]-292).

Note:

No description available.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--UCLA, 2007. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 265-284).