Madge Macbeth Is Emblematic of Such Constructions/Constnctions
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NOTE TO USERS The original manuscript received by UMI contains broken, slanted and or light print. All efforts were made to acquire the highest quality manuscript from the author or school. Microfilmed as received. This reproduction is the best copy available THE LIFE AND TIMES OF A LITERARY CHAMELEON: MADGE HAMILTON LYONS MACBETH A Thesis Presented to The Faculty of Graduate Studies of The University of Guelph BY TL. CURTIS In partial fùlfilment of requirements for the degree of Master of Arts December, 1996 Q Tara Curtis, 1996 National Library Bibliothèque nationale l*l ofCanada du Canada Acquisitions and Acquisitions et Bibliographie Senrices services bibliographiques 395 Wellington Street 395, nie Wellington Ottawa ON K1AON4 OttawaON KIAOM Canada Canada The author has granted a non- L'auteur a accordé une licence non exclusive licence allowing the exclusive permettant a la National Library of Canada to Bibliothèque nationale du Canada de reproduce, loan, distribute or sell reproduire, prêter, distribuer ou copies of this thesis in microform, vendre des copies de cette thèse sous paper or elecîronic formats. la fome de microfiche/^ de reproduction sur papier ou sur format électronique. The authur retains ownership of the L'auteur conserve la propriété du copyright in this thesis. Neither the droit d'auteur qui protège cette thèse. thesis nor substantial extracts fium it Ni la thèse ni des extraits substantiels may be printed or otheniise de celle-ci ne doivent être imprimés reproduced without the author's ou autrement reproduits sans son permission. autorisation. ABSTRACT THE LIFE AND TIMES OF A LITERARY CHAMELEON: MADGE HAMILTON LYONS MACBETH Tara Curtis Advisor: University of Guelph, 1996 Dr. Doma Palrnateer Pemee This thesis contnbutes to on-going research in Canadian letters to recuperate the works of "forgotten" women writers through an acwunt of the life and works of Madge Hamilton Lyons Macbeth (1878- 1965) in the contexts of her own day, denved in part from original archival research. The thesis utilizes cultural materialist and ferninist fiameworks as its primary tools for analyzing the ways in which notions of nationhood, protocols of genre, academic institutionalization and canon formation, as well as such designations as "popular" have created an infrastructure which places "virile" (masculine) writing at its core. Thus, before women writers of the early twentieth-century cornmited pen to paper, their work was, ipso facto relegated to literary sub-categories. The thesis argues that the career of Madge Macbeth is emblematic of such constructions/constnctions. 1 Acknow ledgements 1 would like to thank most my advisor, Donna Palrnateer Pennee, who inspired me long before this degree began through her exceptional teaching. her many contributions to the environment of the depanment, to srudent morale, and to academic rholarship. 1 consider it a privilege to know her and thank her for her guidance, unflagging suppon and insightful commentary. There are other things for which 1 want to thank Donna--endless drafi submissions patiently read, the Ioan of books, etc.--the List would go on. However, in characreristic fashion, she suggested my acknowledgement page should not sound like a parody of a bad award show acceptance speech, so 1'11 leave it at that and thank her in person. The members of my cornmittee, especially Dr. Mary Rubio, for her humour, patience and insighr; Dr. Helen Hoy for agreeing to act as Thesis Examiner and Dr. Diana Brydon, Examining Cornmi tree Chair. Thanks to Mr. Eric Gaskell for taking time out of his own busy life to assist, encourage, and contnbute to this research. It was a genuine pleasure to meedspeak with someone who knew Madge and who shares my enthusiasm for her work. Thanks to Ms. Mike Macbeth, whose personal refiections have been invaluable to this research. Thanks to the Depanment of English--especially Dr. Catherine Kerrigan-for providing me with teachinglresearch opportunities that have helped with my support over the past 1.5 years; Ms. Eileen Gross, for sticking with me and employing me (thus, helping to defray some of rny research costs) throughout this entire process; Dr. Patrick Holland, whose honesty and enthusiasm are rnatched only by his sense of humour; Dr. Carole Gerson at Simon Fraser University and Barbara Freeman at Carleton University; Jane Boyko of the Onawa Civic Archives: the University of Guelph Iibrary staff, especially Mary Swan; Gai1 McGinnis of the English Depanment; m y fellow graduate students, especiall y Joyce Parsons and Step hen Burke; my colleagues at FACS, panicularly Bill Frisbee, Margo Shœmaker, Colleen O'Brien, and Stacey Darrington; Penny Cinkant and her parents Joan and Ed; Debbie Kortleve and Irene Ellion for allowing me to interview them as part of this research. 1 thank you a11 for your generous assistance and support. Thanks to my parents, Elaine Margaret (Woodcock) and William Alexander Curtis: thank you for supponing and believing in me; my daughter Amanda Leigh: you, more than anyone else in my life, inspired me to choose this path; my husband John: 1 cannot begin to express rny appreciation for your patience. unconditional love and support during my physical and emorional absences. mis thesis is dedicnred tu the two men who contnbuted most to mÿ low of fiterature: Mr. Roy Biomstrom and Mr. Lurry Bryun. ... 111 Table of Contents The Life and Times of a Literary Chameleon: Madge Hamilton Lyons Macbeth Acknowledgements .. .. - .. i ... Table of Contents.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. - .. .. 111 Introduction: The Life and Times of a Literary Chameleon: Madge Hamüton Lyons Macbeth ............ ............ ..... .... ...... 1 Methodology .............................................................. 6 Notes: Introduction .. .. .. ... .. 10 Works Cited: Introduction .. - -.. .. 11 Chapter 1: "1s This A Dagger Which 1 See Before Me?" or My Pen 1s Bigger Than Yours: Academia, Anthologization, Canon Formation and The Protocols of Genre ....... .... ... .. ..... .. ......... .... ..... 15 Case Study: What is a Classic? .. 21 Feminist Criticisrn .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 36 The Protocols of Genre 1: Romance .. .. .. 41 The Protocols of Genre 2: Acceptable Content and Acceptable Style . 52 Notes: Chapter 1 ........................................................ 61 Works Cited: Chapter 1 ................................................. 67 Chapter 2: Stepping Outside the "Woman's Sphere:" Journalism, The Short Story and "The Woman Question" ....... ....... .. ... .... ... ..... .. .. .. ... 74 Journalism ...................................................... .............. 82 The Short Story .............................................................. 94 The Woman Question .......................................................... 100 Notes: Chapter 2 .......................................................... -110 Works Cited: Chapter 2 .................................................. 123 Chapter 3: Madge Macbeth: Novelist . The Canadian Authon' Association and Madge's Literary Reception .......................................... 129 The Canadian Authors' Association ......................................... 133 Macbeth's Novels: Reception History .................................. ..-144 Notes: Chapter 3 ........................................................... 166 Works Cited: Chapter 3 .................................................. Si59 Conclusion: Where Do We Go From Here? ............................................ 175 Notes: Conclusion ..................................................... 179 Works Cited: Conclusion ................................................. 181 APPENDICES Appendix A: The Collected Works of Madge Macbeth .......................... 182 Notes: Appendix A ........................................................ 235 Works Cited: Appendix A ................................................ 248 Appendix B: Macbeth's Magazine Publications: 1917-1 920 .................... 250 Notes: Appendix B ......................................................... 307 Works Cited: Appendix B ............................ .. .................308 Appendix C: Royalty Statements: Novels .........................................-309 Notes: Appendix C ............................................................ 311 Works Cited: Appendix C ................................. .. .............. -313 Appendix D .1 Photograph (Shackles) ................................................. 3 14 Appendix D.2 Photograph (Land of Aftemoon) .................................... 315 1 introduction Madge Hamilton Lyons Macbeth: The Life and Times of a Literary Chameleon There is a world now scattered in the archives und the dut, waiting for whoever wants m try putring if together again. - William Kilbourn, The Firebrand (1956) What is one to do with the writings of a woman who both flouted and reinforced the literary conventions of her tirne? Who was, in her writing and in her life, unconventional, yet who often chose to work within the accepted standards of her day; who could be considered both a popular and a serious writer (according to the literary standards of her own time and ours); who wrote frankly on issues such as divorce, sex (teenage sex, sex both inside and outside of rnarriage, casual sex. sexual desire/longing, sexual pleasure, adultery. sex between individuals of very different ages), religious hypocrisy, marital dissatisfaction, prostitution. and dmg use. yet who often worked within the "traditional" romance genre; who wrote about women