My Summer Research




This page gives a bit of insight into my summer research project, the key starting point for this blog. My research title is "Nature as Rejuvenation in Literary Depictions of Isolation Past and Present." 

A recurring motif in literature is nature providing central characters with some kind of catharsis, or awakening. If writers aren't using nature to do this, it is often deployed as a sympathetic background in subtle and sometimes less-tangible ways; characters’ moods are frequently reflected or drawn from the natural world and the elements surrounding them.  The natural world may not be the most enticing aspect of literary fiction to many, but it is an integral one at that and one that has many roles to play in the shaping of a text, specifically through characterisation. My research will address how nature plays an active role in both positively and negatively shaping characters' psychological responses to isolation in 20th century and contemporary literature.

The four texts my research will focus on are The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett (1911), Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier (1938), Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys (1966) and Normal People by Sally Rooney (2018). There's quite a lot of variety here and quite a mix of genres so each of the texts should be equally fruitful to think about. To give a brief overview of the texts (that I'm sure will change slightly with my research, later down the line): 

  • In The Secret Garden, a young girl learns morality, love, friendship and wisdom - using the healing and cathartic powers of nature to leave resentment behind.  

  • In Rebecca, the Cornish coast serves as a dramatic backdrop that reflects the protagonist's angst and the creepy, jarring undertones of this psychological drama. 

  • In Wide Sargasso Sea, Antoinette loves the vibrancy of the West Indies' natural world. The landscape of Britain, however, is oppressive and mirrors her captivity. 

  • In Normal People, two protagonists who fail to communicate their needs have their moods and desires echoed in their surroundings. 

I'm looking forward to learning more about these great texts and engaging with literary criticism such as ecocriticism, feminism, and that which addresses the representation of mental health.

You can find out a bit more about my research here: https://laidlawscholars.network/posts/laidlaw-research-proposal

The aim of the scholarship is to deliver real-world impact with the skills and knowledge gained through our research. This blog intends to be a tool and springboard for engagement this year and beyond. 

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