PhD Theses and Dissertations

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Traits of Modernism in Hardy's Female Protagonists Instinctual Versus Social Selves
(Department of English, University of Peshawar, 2012) Shazia Ghulam Mohammad; Supervised by Prof. Dr. Abdus Salam
Thomas Hardy (1840-1928) — a versatile literary genius and one of the most celebrated English novelists— has subtly combined the traditional heritage of the Victorian era with modern literary trends, linking the two centuries divided by conflicting schools of thought. Though having created memorable scenes, settings and unique places, his prime focus is on inner human sensibilities. Among humans, it is the fair sex which gets more share of his attention. His sensitive mind dwells on women and the issues faced by them due to their anatomical marginalization. Unlike his Victorian contemporaries who treated the mental and emotional complexities of women in accordance with the typical and Victorian perception of their nature and character, Hardy has made a difference by deviating significantly. The most instrumental form of this deviation is his anticipation of the ways in which women would be perceived and portrayed in the coming century epitomized by the term “Modernism”.