Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Identifier

2455

Date

2015

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts

Major

History

Committee Chair

Andrew M. Daily

Committee Member

Ben R. Jordan

Committee Member

Melanie R. Conroy

Abstract

This work analyzes Chateaubriand's writings on America and compares them to Rousseau's philosophical writings on nature. In doing so, Iargue that Chateaubriand showed an exception interest in nature without human intervention - unlike Rousseau, who had an anthropomorphic approach to nature. By emphasizing Chateaubriand's nonanthropomorphic approach to nature, this paper rejects the monolithic view of FrenchRomanticism and contributes a deeper understanding of this important trend eighteenth century onwards.In order to arrive at a global picture of Chateaubriand's idea of nature, the primary source I will analyze are Chateaubriand's Atala, Voyage en Amerique, and Memoires d'outre-tombe and Rousseau's Discours sur l'origine et les fondements de l'inegalite, Contrat social, and Dictionnaire de botanique. I also draw upon numerous sources from Maison de Chateaubriand and Bibliotheque Nationale de France.

Comments

Data is provided by the student.

Library Comment

Dissertation or thesis originally submitted to the local University of Memphis Electronic Theses & dissertation (ETD) Repository.

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