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REPRESENTATIONS OF WOMEN IN SELECTED WORKS OF HERBERT GEORGE DE LISSER (1878 - 1944) Donna-Marie Urbanowicz. BA (Hons), MA Thesis submitted to the University of Nottingham for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy School of American & Canadian Studies July 2013 This thesis is dedicated to my beloved husband, who never stopped believing in me. ABSTRACT This thesis examines the intellectual significance of early Caribbean writer Herbert George de Lisser in his literary writings and as such is a work of recovery and criticism. Each chapter concentrates on a specific, predominantly European, literary genre and investigates how de Lisser experiments with these genres in order to not only support and recognise the emergence of a local national literature, but also to create a cultural national identity based upon the symbolic use of women to define Jamaica as a nation. Situating de Lisser within colonial discourse and the socio-political arena of the British Empire, the introduction sets out the postcolonial theoretical framework and relocates de Lisser within the context of West Indian literature, debating his literary neglect alongside his need to be reclaimed. Chapter I debates the traditional notions of nationhood and examines the dislocation and (re)gendering of nation and nationhood through the lens of women as founders of a nation with the main emphasis on his novel "Anacanoa." Chapter II concentrates on de Lisser's "historical" novels and explores the representation of heroism and the search for a national identity in two of de Lisser's novels, Revenge and Psyche, written at the beginning and the end of his career. This chapter examines the way in which the novels' (re)negotiation of the representations of heroism is explored within individual characters. Chapter III examines women as a symbol of Jamaica through the lens of female independence and national identity. The focus of this chapter rests on de Lisser's literary works that have received a limited amount of literary investigation, namely Jane's Career and Susan Proudleigh, with a third novel "Myrtle and Money" which is not only a sequel to Jane's Career (although written some 30 years later), but also creates a trilogy of texts that serves to represent the political complexities of early twentieth century Jamaica. Chapters IV and V act as sister chapters and examine the representation of women through the (re)clamation and (re )creation of folk legends and the commodification of literature in the novels Morgan's Daughter and The White Witch ofRosehall. These chapters consider how de Lisser's appropriation of a legend encourages that legend to evolve into a symbol for nationalism and historical heritage. Experimenting with the genres of sentimental literature and gothic fiction respectively, de Lisser investigates the dichotomy of European and Jamaican cultures. Chapter VI focuses upon the general constructions of nationhood which are founded upon traditional hegemonic public and private spheres. With an in-depth investigation into his periodical Planters' Punch which was produced from 1920-1945, this chapter analyses how de Lisser continuously blurs these spherical boundaries by creating strong women who are capable of fulfilling the "role" of the male in civilised society and therefore relocates them into the public arena. Finally, the conclusion explores de Lisser's perception of women and highlights how by investigating his literary works through his representation of women, de Lisser is able to be reconciled within a more delineated and inclusive Caribbean literary canon. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Firstly, I would like to express my deepest thanks to my supervisors Judie Newman, OBE and Celeste-Marie Bernier. They have been a wonderful inspiration to me during the construction of this thesis and this work would not have been completed had it not been for their unconditional support and encouragement. I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to Sharon Monteith for having the belief in me as an undergraduate and introducing me to the areas of research that have become my passion. I would also like to extend my thanks to Rhonda Cobham for her insights into Herbert de Lisser and to Diane Paton, Patricia Murray, Henrice, Altnick and Leah Rosenberg for their intellectual input and challenging discussions on Herbert de Lisser during the course of this research. This thesis has not been without its administrative issues, and therefore I would like to take this opportunity to express my unconditional gratitude to the incredibly professional and efficient School of American & Canadian Studies Administration Team: Ann McQueen, Helen Taylor, Jacqui Clay, Stewart Wright and Marion Connor. Their background support has been invaluable and their office has been a safe haven filled with encouragement and laughter. This thesis has excavated a number of inaccessible documents and it would not have been possible to achieve this end, had it not been for the continuous help and support of a number of librarians. Particular thanks go to Alison Stevens, University of Nottingham; Miss Jessica Lewis, National Library of Jamaica and Mrs Frances Salmon, University of West Indies, Mona Campus. Equally, this thesis would not have been possible to complete without a research trip to Jamaica and I would like to express my thanks to The University of Nottingham Graduate School for their Travel Prize Award and to the School of American & Canadian Studies who helped fund such a research trip. I would also like to thank The Caribbean Society who funded me to attend their annual conference and present a paper. This conference was a privilege to attend and I am grateful to have had the opportunity. Finally, I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to my family and friends, without whom this thesis would not have been possible. I am deeply indebted to my exceptional husband Richard, who has selflessly given his time ii to enable me to complete this thesis. I would like to express my deepest gratitude to my wonderful parents Christine and Stephen Perry, for their gracious support and unlimited help with the children and to my beautiful sister Deborah James for her patience and understanding while listening to the "ramblings of a mad woman." I would also like to give special thanks to Antony Slegg who has been on my academic journey with me from the beginning and who has never lost his faith in me. A long time ago now, but I would also like to extend my thanks to David Stoner who encouraged me to return to postgraduate education. I would like to thank Sinead Moynihan, Jo Richens, Ruth Maxey, Vicky Bizzell, Charlie Godfrey, Jo and Tony Lennon, Emma Goodman, Sophie Styles, Celeste-Marie Bernier, Simon Linsley and Clare Oakley who have been sympathetic and understanding during this time and have supplied me with copious amounts of tea and encouragement. I would also like to extend my thanks to Val Watson for keeping me sane. During the completion of this thesis I have been blessed with two beautiful children and therefore I would also like to dedicate this thesis to my two amazing sons, Samuel and Clark who bring out the best in me. iii CONTENTS PAGE ABSTRACT 1 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 11 INTRODUCTION The Forgotten Works of Herbert George de Lisser. 1 CHAPTER I (Re)creation ofa Nation: Founding Mothers and the (Re)claiming of Jamaica. 47 CHAPTER II Through a Political Lens: Female Independence and the Commodification of Jamaica. 81 CHAPTER III The (Re )presentations and (Re )negotiations of Heroism in Revenge and Psyche. 128 CHAPTER IV Race, Resistance and the Reclamation of Three-finger'd Jack 162 CHAPTER V The Power of Oral Tradition: Culture, Religion and the Birth of a Jamaican "National" Narrative in The White Witch ofRosehall. 192 CHAPTER VI The Power of the Written Word: Planters' Punch and the Relocation of Women into the Public Sphere. 222 iv CONCLUSION Too Conservative to be a Nationalist: Herbert de Lisser's "Forgotten" Career. 250 APPENDIX I 259 APPENDIX II Illustrations. 261 APPENDIX III Annotated Bibliography and Publishing History of the novels of Herbert George de Lisser. 278 BIBLIOGRAPHY 295 v INTRODUCTION The Forgotten Works of Herbert George de Lisser.! Critical terminology evolves and what was once formally known as West Indian literature is now Caribbean literature. Although the terminology may have changed, the search for identity and roots within the literature of the region has not. Antonio Benitez-Rojo argues that it is impossible to define the Caribbean, claiming that it is a self-perpetuating phenomenon that continuously repeats in on itself. However, with our eyes on the prize of transnationalism, globalisation and cultural plurality, it is now appropriate to (re)investigate and (re)examine our colonial heritage. For while geopolitical borders are expanding and issues of migration, immigration and globalisation are destabilising our preconceived notions of nation and identity, it is important that we still recognise and accept some traditional geographical and national boundaries, in order to further understand our movement across, from, to and through them. Although contemporary scholars have examined the impact of transnational studies on the transmigration of West Indian intellectuals during the early twentieth century, I argue for the intellectual significance of the West Indian writers who remained in the Caribbean. Inevitably this thesis does not allow for the examination of all the Caribbean writers who wrote prolifically during this period but examines the intellectual significance of Jamaican born, coloured conservative writer Herbert George de Lisser. 1 Throughout my research, de Lisser's surname has been written in various stylistic formats by different scholars and critics. For the purpose of this thesis, I shall use the format that de Lisser himself used and place the "de" in small print with a capital "L" preceding the second half of his name, while leaving a space between the two.

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