This dissertation examines the unique social relationships formed between white Creole characters and their Anglo-English
counterparts in Romantic-era women’s fiction. Guided by Adam Smith’s Theory of Moral Sentiments, my dissertation terms these social
relationships "negative bonds," which are defined as affective exchanges of both sympathy and negative feeling. Guilt, disgust, and
shame—all negative affects—occur in tandem with sympathy during moments when white Creole characters attempt to assimilate to British
culture. Through their eventual failure, white Creole characters engender sympathy and experience negative affects from the Anglo-English
characters, creating negative bonds that reinforce racial binaries and national boundaries. In using Sianne Ngai’s Ugly Feelings to
further conceptualize negative bonds, I extend the discussion to include contemporary theories of affective exchanges. While Ngai’s text
explores figures who are oppressed by negative affects, my dissertation looks to the oppressors themselves, illuminating the role that
affect plays within racialized discourse. Thus, analysis of negative bonds puts pressure upon texts that participate in maintaining social
systems that continually exclude women from social equality and political rights. Negative bonds are most explicitly rendered through
interactions with white Creole characters because they exist in geographical (Caribbean/Britain), national
(Anglo-English/British-Caribbean), and racial (white/black) liminal spaces. Initially accepted into the ranks of elite social circles,
white Creole characters threaten the "purity" of British society and test the limits of inclusionary and abolitionist discourse. While
Romantic-era women’s fiction should position white Creole characters to dismantle social, racial, and economic systems of oppression,
negative bonds confirm the Anglo-English characters’ superiority through affective exchanges with the "other." Ultimately, negative bonds
solidify the white Creole’s "otherness" and maintain social order by ensuring the reproduction of British social
hierarchies. / A Dissertation submitted to the Department of English in partial fulfillment of the requirements for
the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. / Fall Semester 2016. / October 19, 2016. / Includes bibliographical references. / Eric Walker, Professor Directing Dissertation; Lisa Wakamiya, University Representative; Meegan
Kennedy Hanson, Committee Member; Candace Ward, Committee Member.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:fsu.edu/oai:fsu.digital.flvc.org:fsu_405680 |
| Contributors | Murphy, Taylor Lynn (authoraut), Walker, Eric . (professor directing dissertation), Wakamiya, Lisa, 1969-- (university representative), Hanson, Meegan (committee member), Ward, Candace (committee member), Florida State University (degree granting institution), College of Arts and Sciences (degree granting college), Department of English (degree granting departmentdgg) |
| 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 (131 pages), 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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