<p> This thesis examines how Ernest Buckler's literary style, particularly in his presentation of the theme of isolation and his characterizations, is detennined by his intentional use of irony. By examining all of Buckler's work, including both unpublished and often neglected writings, this thesis offers critical analysis of the author's entire literary career. Unlike other critical discussions which have concentrated narrowly on the role of the artist figure and recognize irony only in limited areas, my criticism focusses on the pervasive ironies which effect the content of Buckler's fiction. I discuss irony as a structural device which unifies the Buckler canon and demonstrates the author's creative development. Through detailed analysis of the works, I offer internal evidence for my theory, and from The Buckler Collection I offer external evidence about Buckler's intentions and beliefs concerning irony. My thesis argues that critical evaluations of Buckler's writing must consider how his conscious use of irony determines our interpretation and understanding of his work.</p> <p> Irony as used in this study involves the recognition of incongruities, the contrast between appearance and reality. It manifests itself in Buckler's perspective of irony, his vision of the world as characterized by irreconcilable tensions and contradictions that are tolerated by mankind only through htmlan relationships. The role of irony in his fiction is to elucidate this attitude as it affects his themes, characterizations, plot structures and writing techniques. When applied to his beliefs and perceptions, the term irony no longer identifies only the literary genre or stylistic devices of fiction, but refers to the kinds of themes and subject matter explored by Buckler. Therefore, this thesis explains how Buckler emphasizes in his work the recognition of incongruities and uses irony to thematically structure his work. </p> <p> According to Buckler, one tragedy of modern society is alienation caused by the contradiction between man's idealized expectations and his disillusioning experiences. Buckler's perspective of irony concentrates on this discrepancy which isolates man from his community and forces him into absolute isolation, Buckler's tenn for bitter loneliness and irreversible alienation. This bleak process can only be prevented by each man acknowledging the presence of local ironies, accepting them as part of the universal human condition and reaching out to share that awareness with other men equally doomed and troubled by absurdities and contradictions. Together, through love and honest human relationships, they will face life's disturbing inconsistencies and cruel disappointments. As well, they will reject the despair of nihilism when they find truth and meaning in such human relationships. </p> <p> In this thesis I examine how Buckler expresses his perspective of irony in the fonn and content of his fiction, but I concentrate on his subject matter, themes and characterizations. The chapter discussions explain how Buckler's intentional use of irony affects his central theme of isolation. Chapter One discusses the short stories in The Rebellion of Young David and Other Stories (1975) as well as other pieces of short fiction, published and unpublished from The Buckler Collection. These selections illustrate how tensions in family relationships cause misunderstandings and feelings of rejection until a demonstration of family loyalty expressing love reunites family members. We see Buckler creating irony by juxtaposing opposites, contrasting different narrative voices, shifting time frames and manipulating images and symbols. All of these techniques develop over the period of Buckler's career.</p> <p> Chapter Two discusses The Mountain and The Valley (1952) in relation to the central theme of isolation, the artist as an ironic figure, the disintegration of the Canaan family and the conflict between various perceptions of reality. I focus on the power of language, the creative process and metaphor and the ultimate meaning of David's death. My criticism explores the entire scope of Buckler's handling of irony as it relates to David's character and to Buckler's own commentaries and plans.</p> <p>Chapter Three examines irony as Buckler's challenge to nihilism in The Cruelest month (1963), the use of verbal irony, the highly intellectual style of writing, the confirmation of love as the only solution to the modern condition and the treatment of the ironic artist figure in the characters of Paul Creed and Morse Halliday.</p> <p> Chapter Four includes a discussion of Ox Bells and Fireflies (1968), a nostalgic, poetic memoir of the way it was. This work contrasts the ideal past with the disillusioning present to illustrate how man lives in a sterile, alienating environment. The presence of unintentional irony involving the conflicting perceptions of the reader and Buckler weaken the overall effectiveness of the work. In Nova Scotia: Window on the Sea (1973), Buckler jlLxtaposes contrasting ways of life, values and characterizations to emphasize how his Nova Scotian home embodies ironic contrasts. The isolation that Buckler describes is, for the most part, associatc<l with geography and physical solitude rather than a sense of alienation. Whirligig (1977) demonstrates how irony can evolve into satire and parody while continuing to contrast appearances with reality. Isolation occurs as a mild form of loneliness and alienation, an inescapable part of modern society made tolerable by man's sense of humour and absurd comedy.</p> <p>As a modern writer of ironic literature, Buckler focusses on the complex ironies of human existence and the tragedy of alienation. His ironic perspective views man as fated in his struggle to survive in an indifferent universe where the phenomenal world thwarts his aspirations toward the ideal and his longing for perfection. But Buckler believes that human relationships give ultimate meaning to life and tritunph over the ironies and isolation suffered by mankind. Although often imperfect and subject to the perversities present in the modeni world, love remains man's only hope. While recognizing the ironies inherent in life, Buckler affirms in his fiction the significance of life itself, the human family and human love. This thesis examines the Buckler canon in the light of his philosophy and demonstrates that Buckler writes from an ironic perspective which modulates the reader's understanding of his work.</p> / Thesis / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:mcmaster.ca/oai:macsphere.mcmaster.ca:11375/15616 |
| Date | January 1983 |
| Creators | Hustler, Rhonda Gertrude |
| Contributors | Ferns, J., English |
| Source Sets | McMaster University |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
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