The Character and Education of Gwendolen Harleth

Description

In the second of an eight part lecture series on “Daniel Deronda,” Professor Ruth Wisse examines George Eliot’s modern heroine Gwendolen Harleth. An expert on Yiddish and Jewish literature and winner of the National Humanities Medal, Wisse analyzes how Gwendolen’s upbringing contributes to her character flaws. We learn about her inappropriate education, absent father, overindulgent mother, and lack of a home base or religious guidance. Her attraction to Daniel stems from a desire for moral guidance, and she struggles with her conscience when deciding to marry Grandcourt. However, rather using Gwendolen as a precautionary tale, Eliot elicits reader sympathy and links her plight to the complex challenges facing 19th century British society.

Runtime

47 min 30 sec

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Films on Demand

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