The family unit established by Adam and Eve in the first book of the Bible is often rewritten and resurrected in American literature. This dissertation explores the Genesis lore cycle in American literature as an emblem of changing family dynamics in the past two centuries. The family unit established by Adam and Eve is rewritten in order to address American literary themes such as fratricide, incest, marking, and more. I analyze texts ranging from very canonical American pieces, such as John Steinbeck's East of Eden and Ralph Ellison's Invisible Man, to contemporary ones like Suzan-Lori Parks' Topdog Underdog and Dorothy Allison's Bastard out of Carolina. The fall, fratricide, and implied incest evident in Genesis appear in American literature amid new families who fail to mirror the utopian nuclear family set forth in the initial Edenic creation. These new American families maintain the lore cycle and combat the connotation that American families fit the Genesis first family mold. This study also incorporates findings from other disciplines, including history, sociology, and psychology. Utilizing this scholarship, I examine the ways in which American writers have resurrected Genesis amid major American historical changes such as civil rights, feminism, and more. / A Dissertation submitted to the Department of English in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. / Summer Semester, 2008. / April 11, 2008. / American Literature, Family Violence, Family Studies, Lore Cycles / Includes bibliographical references. / W.T. Lhamon, Professor Directing Dissertation; John Fenstermaker, Committee Member; Andrew Epstein, Committee Member; Neil Jumonville, Outside Committee Member.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:fsu.edu/oai:fsu.digital.flvc.org:fsu_180978 |
| Contributors | Marshall, Heidi Ann (authoraut), Lhamon, W.T. (professor directing dissertation), Fenstermaker, John (committee member), Epstein, Andrew (committee member), Jumonville, Neil (outside committee member), Department of English (degree granting department), Florida State University (degree granting institution) |
| Publisher | Florida State University, Florida State University |
| Source Sets | Florida State University |
| Language | English, English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Text, text |
| Format | 1 online resource, computer, application/pdf |
| Rights | This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s). The copyright in theses and dissertations completed at Florida State University is held by the students who author them. |
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