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In the Novels of Hg Wells, Arthur C. Clarke and Jk Rowling

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In the Novels of Hg Wells, Arthur C. Clarke and Jk Rowling View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by Etheses - A Saurashtra University Library Service Saurashtra University Re – Accredited Grade ‘B’ by NAAC (CGPA 2.93) Thanki, Pratiksha H., 2011, “Time, Space and Fantasy' in the novels of H. G. Wells, Arthur C. Clarke and J. K. Rowling: A Critical Study”, thesis PhD, Saurashtra University http://etheses.saurashtrauniversity.edu/id/839 Copyright and moral rights for this thesis are retained by the author A copy can be downloaded for personal non-commercial research or study, without prior permission or charge. This thesis cannot be reproduced or quoted extensively from without first obtaining permission in writing from the Author. The content must not be changed in any way or sold commercially in any format or medium without the formal permission of the Author When referring to this work, full bibliographic details including the author, title, awarding institution and date of the thesis must be given. Saurashtra University Theses Service http://etheses.saurashtrauniversity.edu [email protected] © The Author ‘TIME, SPACE AND FANTASY’ IN THE NOVELS OF H. G. WELLS, ARTHUR C. CLARKE AND J. K. ROWLING: A CRITICAL STUDY THESIS submitted to SAURASHTRA UNIVERSITY For the award of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY in ENGLISH SUPERVISED BY: SUBMITTED BY: Dr. Fatima T. Sugarwala Pratiksha H. Thanki Associate Professor, Journalist, Smt. K.S.N.Kansagara Mahila 2/B Angan Apartment, College, Satellite Area, Rajkot (Gujarat) Ahmedabad (Gujarat) 2011 STATEMENT UNDER UNI. O. PH. D. 7 I hereby declare that the work embodied in my thesis on ‘Time, Space and Fantasy’ in the Novels of H.G. Wells, Arthur C. Clarke and J.K. Rowling: A Critical Study prepared for Ph.D. degree has not been submitted for any other degree of this university or any other university on any previous occasion and to the best of my knowledge, no work has been reported on the above subject. The work presented in this thesis is original and whenever references have been made to the work of others, they have been clearly indicated as such and the source of information is included in the bibliography. GUIDE: RESEARCH SCHOLAR: Dr. Fatima T. Sugarwala Pratiksha H. Thanki Associate Professor, Journalist, Smt. K.S.N.Kansagara Mahila 2/B Angan Apartment, College, Satellite Area, Rajkot (Gujarat) Ahmedabad(Gujarat) CERTIFICATE This is to certify that Pratiksha H. Thanki has prepared this thesis on ‘TIME, SPACE AND FANTASY’ IN THE NOVELS OF H.G. WELLS, ARTHUR C. CLARKE AND J.K. ROWLING: A CRITICAL STUDY for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY in English under my guidance, supervision and to my satisfaction. Date: Place: Rajkot DR. FATIMA T. SUGARWALA Associate Professor, Smt. K.S.N.Kansagara Mahila College, Rajkot (Gujarat) ACKNOWLEDGEMENT Growing up reading Wells and Clarke and getting swept away by Rowling’s highly adored children’s books as a grown up, these novels made me believe there is more to reality than what meets the eye. As a researcher, I wish to examine the relationship between fantasy and reality in these books. Before I delve into the subject I must express my sincere gratitude to those who did not let this work remain a fantasy. This effort wouldn’t have been possible without very objective, ever present scholarly guidance of Dr. Fatima Sugarwala, Associate Professor, Department of English, Smt. K. S. N. Kansagara Mahila College. She always brought me and the research work back on the right track like a literary compass with her precise methods, insights and extensive knowledge. I must also thank Mr. Naishadh Kariya, a journalist with a daily newspaper in Rajkot, for making it possible to reach Dr. Sugarwala. A lot of valuable advice and many literary discussions with Dr. Rucha Brahmbhatt, Head of the English Department at Samarpan Arts and Commerce College, Gandhinagar, have contributed to my confidence level as well as literary perception. IIM Ahmedabad’s Dr. Vaibhav Bhamoriya helped in understanding of research patterns, shared his insights concerning science fiction and sociology and provided much needed initial arguments and discussions. Finding the right kind of library proved to be tough but the H. M. library of M. S. University, library of Gujarat University, Gujarat Vidyapith, Ahmedabad’s British library, M. J. library, Bücherei of Unterhaching, Munich and Stuttgart’s public libraries and their staff members have been like lifelines to this project. A special thanks to my husband Kumar Palan and his parents Hansa and Hemchandra Palan. Kumar has been inspiring, kind and patient as ever. Last but not the least, this one is for Chandrika and Harsukh Thanki, my mom and dad. Their constant support makes everything look easy and achievable. Every word I write here or anywhere is thanks to both of them. They believed I could do this, even before I knew it. CONTENTS Introduction 1 Chapter I 17 Fantasia: A Literary Breakthrough Chapter II 36 ‘Time and Man’: The Time Machine by H.G. Wells Chapter III 80 ‘Space and Man’: 2001: A Space Odyssey by Arthur C. Clarke Chapter IV 123 ‘Fantasy and Man’: Harry Potter series by J. K. Rowling Chapter V 173 Idea as a subverted reality Chapter VI 215 Conclusion Bibliography 228 Annotated Bibliography 247 INTRODUCTION Literary conventions are interlaced with social traditions and scientific inventions since more than last two centuries. The genre of science fiction and fantasy record, reflect and prolifically contribute to these traditions and inventions. Works of science fiction and fantasy are often cast aside as ‘pulp’ literature by purists, yet the genre maintains a continuous stronghold on the minds of the readers as it offers the opportunity to escape into the world of imagination. It also provides the possibility of discovering fresh perceptions, a scope for the mankind to find new ways of seeing old things or find new answers to the old questions. With suggestive and speculative characteristics, fantasy has matured over time in the hands of many literary masters. Jules Verne told stories of journeying in the submarine to fight sea monsters and landing on the surface of the Moon through a space canon. He contributed to the imagination of his time while advances of science and science fiction were yet to take a concrete shape. In the 20th century the likes of Isaac Asimov and Robert Heinlein took science fiction to new heights, writing history of the future with their speculative style. Around the same time J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis combined imagination with religious, scientific and social imagery in their fantasy novels. This research endeavors to examine selected works of three such masters who belong to three different eras – H. G. Wells, Arthur C. Clarke and J. K. Rowling. They bring together myriads of influences, imagery and amalgamate it all with original content. Pratiksha Thanki 1 They have lived and worked in different times and maneuvered many literary forms to suit their own content. H. G. Wells started writing towards the end of the 19th century, as a keen observer of social vices in the Victorian England with a scientific bent of mind. He put his ideas, imagination and literary skills at work. His most popular novel The Time Machine (1895) depicts a quest of time travelling in distant futures to find answers to the questions boggling his mind and threw light on the conflicts of his own time in the process. Wells’ initial novellas began as story installments in magazines. The Time Machine became a runaway success and The Island of Doctor Moreau followed it in 1896. The theme of human evolution still fresh in his mind from his first novel, Wells once again imagines degeneration of human race. This time the setting is of a remote island instead of a faraway future from his previous novel. The portrayal of the protagonist Prendick reaching this mysterious island and the character of Dr. Moreau, who performs experimental research on humans and apes, met with criticism at the time as Wells’ style and content lacks the logic and precision of The Time Machine. However, barring that initial reaction The Island of Doctor Moreau is now considered a part of Wells’ collection of celebrated scientific romances written at the beginning of his career. The Invisible Man published a year later in 1897 also contains Wells’ scientific exuberance. However, this time he uses the theme of the potential of the power of science leading a man into a wrong direction. After years of experiment on human reflexive index, a man called Griffin manages to become invisible. As a result he is intoxicated with his own abilities and Pratiksha Thanki 2 gradually slips into insanity. Wells’ tryst with scientific romances continued with When the Sleeper Awakes (1899) where Wells uses the old technique of mysterious sleep that makes the protagonist Graham unconscious for two centuries. This technique comes in handy for Wells to present an imaginary London, its political state and scientific advancements after two centuries. His imagination of war fought in the air didn’t take two centuries but became a reality within half a century of the novel’s publication. In all these works there are elements like hostile aliens races, political turmoil, scientific inventions gone wrong and the consequences of out of control human ambitions. No matter how overpowering the element of scientific development in his novels, Wells kept the human core intact in around 50 novels of various lengths and genres. With the progress of the 20th century, society and literature were enriched by tangible scientific developments. Things that earlier may have been considered to be a part of an author’s literary imagination gradually became scientific facts.
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