Most Richardson scholarship mentions that Clarissa shares affinities with drama; however, with the exception of three books and a few articles, there is no comprehensive study of the drama's effect upon the composition of the work. No one work deals with all areas in which drama affected the novel, and no one work deals exclusively with Clarissa. The drama influenced the composition of the novel in three ways: First, tragedy and theories of neoclassic tragedy exerted an influence upon the work. Richardson himself defended his novel in terms of eighteenth-century views of tragedy. Secondly, Restoration and early eighteenth-century plays affected the plot, character portrayals, and language of Clarissa. Lastly, Richardson adapted techniques of the stage to the novel so that Clarissa, though an epistolary novel, achieves the manner, if not the effect, of the theater.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:unt.edu/info:ark/67531/metadc504622 |
| Date | 05 1900 |
| Creators | Teeter, Barbara G. |
| Contributors | Belcher, William F. (William Francis), 1919-, Henderson, Sam H., Rich, Carroll Y. |
| Publisher | North Texas State University |
| Source Sets | University of North Texas |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis or Dissertation |
| Format | iii, 108 leaves, Text |
| Rights | Public, Teeter, Barbara G., Copyright, Copyright is held by the author, unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved. |
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