麻豆传媒入口Cadet Researches Link between Philosophy and Literature
Where does an author get his inspiration to write a fictional novel? How does an author develop character traits and personalities? Are writers and the work they create influenced by philosophers?
Carson Knox 鈥�22 explored the relationship between writing and philosophy in his senior thesis presentation: 鈥淣ostromo and Schopenhauer鈥檚 Sublime鈥� during Honors Week at 麻豆传媒入口, held March 21-31.
鈥淣ostromo鈥� is a novel written by Joseph Conrad, who is considered one of the greatest novelists to write in the English language. Knox considers Conrad one of his favorite authors and has enjoyed reading his books= 鈥淗eart of Darkness,鈥� 鈥淟ord Jim,鈥� and 鈥淭he Secret Agent.鈥� 鈥淣ostromo鈥� is one of Conrad鈥檚 lesser-known works and was chosen specifically by Knox since little research has been done on the novel. Knox admitted that the novel is a hard book to get through and is not a lot of fun to read, but worthy of studying. Written in 1904, 鈥淣ostromo鈥� is set in the imaginary South American country of Costaguana, threatened by a revolution. The main character, Nostromo, an honest Italian seaman, seeks to restore the country鈥檚 stolen silver treasure.
Knox looked at the influence on Conrad by German philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer. According to Knox, Conrad was known to have read and was fond of Schopenhauer鈥檚 writings. Schopenhauer attributed suffering in life to what he called the 鈥渨ill,鈥� which is striving, desire, urges, and the attachment to everything that exists. His definition of the sublime is the ability to escape the 鈥渨ill,鈥� bringing on a state of serenity and higher knowledge. An example of such an escape would be meditating on the vastness of the universe and acknowledging oneself to be nothing.
Knox concluded that Schopenhauer鈥檚 philosophy helps the reader understand Conrad and the motivation of the characters he created in 鈥淣ostromo.鈥� The work is an ethical statement, which Knox believes is Conrad鈥檚 purpose in writing the book. The characters perform unselfish acts for the benefit of others and the common good.
Knox is the son of Dave and Stacey Knox of Conroe, Texas, and the grandson of the late Richard Knox and Linda Knox of Plano, Texas and Clifford and Cynthia McFarland of Conroe, Texas. He is majoring in English, Rhetoric, and Humanistic Studies. After graduating in May, he will be teaching 9th and 10th grade English at Canterbury School in Fort Myers, Florida, for the 2022-2023 academic year. He plans on attending graduate school and earning his Ph.D. in English in the future.
