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An Analysis Of Lucy In E. B. Du Bois's A Room With A View

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From the development of the first Model T to the start of petroleum production in the Middle East, 1908 was a year of change and discovery. While some fought to hold on to old sentiments, such as Mayor Mark Breith who announced that "women are not physically fit to operate automobiles", others cheered for the Olympic games and marveled at scientific and technological feats. Just like with generations past, this time of creativity and inspiration was reflected in art and by artists with works such as W. E. B. Du Bois’s The Souls of Black Folk (1903) or L. Frank Baum’s iconic The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1900). In this time of change, E.M. Forster used various literary techniques in his novel A Room With a View to demonstrate that clinging to …show more content…

When Lucy is inside and thus surrounded by members of ‘polite society’, she is not free to express herself. While having dinner at the Pension Bertolini, Miss Bartlett actively prevents Lucy from speaking. On this occasion, Lucy is treated as more of a pretty doll than anything else. Rather than allowing her to speak or express her ideas, those around her limit Lucy’s expressiveness. This view of Lucy changes when she is outdoors. While the Honeychurches, Cecil, and George Emerson are conversing after a game of tennis, Lucy actively participates in the conversation and even goes so far as to ignore Cecil for a little while. In this situation, Lucy is shown to be far more independent and in control than in earlier parts of the book. Here, she pursues a conversation that interests her rather than trying to fit the image of a fiance and giving Cecil all of her attention. By contrasting Lucy’s behavior indoors and outdoors, Forster shows that sometimes one needs to separate oneself from society to truly be free. He strengthens this point at the very end of the novel. In the ending scene, Lucy and George Emerson have gotten married despite the objections and disgust of the residents of Summer Street. Even though others would have it seem as though being completely cut off from society would lead to unhappiness, Lucy seems truly happy and even teases George and makes fun of her brother. By painting such a happy and contented scene, Forster shows that discovering oneself and being truly happy do not require clinging to social

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