Earnest Irony and Un-Committed Attitude in The Pickwick Papers(Kansai English Studies)

抄録

The interpretation of The Pickwick Papers has typically focused on how to handle the protagonist Pickwick. His position has caused indeterminacy in interpretation, since while Pickwick is depicted as the ideal figure of morality, his innocence ironically presents him with various problems throughout the novel. This thesis offers a new approach for interpreting the ambivalence inherent in Pickwick, focusing on how the ironist can enjoy reading this text. First, the exaggerated manner of hypocrites like Dodson and Fogg is actually attributed to innocent Pickwick too, but this is not a contradiction. An innocent person is not conscious of others watching him, and this is the ideal attitude for the ironist, that is, un-commitment. Thus, both the pretentious manner of hypocrites and Pickwick's innocent one work in the same way, by bringing a light and airy tone into this novel. Second, the wisdom of Sam and Tony hidden behind their illogical way of thinking also creates the same earnest and at the same time ironical attitude. Third, the grotesque images in the macabre jokes scattered through the text are introduced by young and hilarious Londoners like Sam and Jingle, and this embodies the un-committed attitude as a style. There is no need for the reader to decide whether this novel is written from a perspective of optimism or sarcasm, since both of them are part of earnest irony.