Work1796
Nature and Art is the second novel written by English actress, playwright, and novelist Elizabeth Inchbald. First published in 1796, Inchbald's two-volume novel considers the infl…
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Nature and Art is the second novel written by English actress, playwright, and novelist Elizabeth Inchbald. First published in 1796, Inchbald's two-volume novel considers the influence of education, social conventions, gender conditioning, and privilege on human behavior.
Nature and Art is the second novel written by English actress, playwright, and novelist Elizabeth Inchbald. First published in 1796, Inchbald's two-volume novel considers the influence of education, social conventions, gender conditioning, and privilege on human behavior.
Nature and Art is a satirical fable published in 1796, which is told in the third person narrative. It consists of forty seven chapters, each one is between two and five pages long. It tells the story of two successive generations, and the corrupting effects of the social system in place at the time. It is quite a blunt, rather than subtle, attack on the societal structure, along with a critical reflection on a woman's place in society at that time. Throughout the story Elizabeth Inchbald analyses the effect of education, power and privileges has on human behaviour.
Some characters are brothers William and Henry Norwynne, as well as their sons, also named William and Henry.
Considered a Jacobin novel, Nature and Art traces the connections between the character's personal experiences and larger structures of institutional oppression. Notably, Nature and Art is an early example of a Romantic era novel with a title of paired opposites, like to the later novel Sense and Sensibility (1811) by Jane Austen.
The story begins with two brothers William (Elder) and Henry, as they leave their native town and travel to London, following the death of their father, a country shopkeeper. Both brothers are under twenty years old, and hope to acquire a living in London. It would appear they are not financially secure as 'through death, their father escaped his creditors'. As they travel Henry weeps, while William does his best to suppress tears. They arrive in London and soon find every attempt to secure employment is met with obstacles. However, there is one thing Henry can do, which is to play the fiddle. Once this becomes known, Henry is invited into company that enables his advancement. He is overjoyed, but also unable to fully enjoy his situation while his brother has not secured a living. Henry offers to teach William to play the violin, but his offer is vehemently refused by his brother. They both agree that he William is much more adept to learning academia than music, so Henry suggests William should go to one of the universities to study.
William manages to attend university with the help and support of Henry, who has sustained a good living through his violin playing. Henry continues to mix with those in wealthy upper-class circles, and through enjoyment of his playing by one man, he manages to secure a living of five hundred pounds for his brother on the man's death. William succeeds in his studies, obtaining the orders of dean and priest. By now the wealthy man has died and William wastes no time returning to take possession of this good fortune. On seeing his brother dressed up in his orders attire, Henry cries tears of pride and joy. However, being the elder, a man of literature, William feels contempt at being obliged to a younger illiterate sibling, and is unable to show gratitude towards Henry. This also makes William feel contempt for his own ingratitude. As Henry's fame and position increases, William seeks advancement within the church. Once he secures position of dean, William begins to insult Henry for his 'useless occupation', highlighting the shame it brings on him in his position of dean. No longer feeling worthy of his brother's company, Henry decides to marry in the hope of finding a companion and friend better suited to his own position.
Henry does find a wife, when William hears and discovers she is a singer, they argue. William refuses to accept Henry's wife, or introduce her to his own wife Lady Clementina. The brothers are estranged for over a year, when William hears of the death of Henry's wife. Unsure of how he should conduct himself, William seeks the advice of his wife, who informs him, with Henry being the inferior, it should be Henry alone to be the first to seek reconciliation. At first William agrees, however constant exposure to Lady Clementina's vanity and selfishness, causes him to reflect on his previous behaviour, and he proceeds to seek Henry out. He finds that Henry has in fact left England for Africa, with his son, following the death of his wife. Time passes, and William and his wife have a child, a boy also named William, who is doted on by his father and educated in the manner equal to his high position in society.
Source: Nature and Art (CC BY-SA)
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When William Jnr reaches the age of thirteen, a sailor arrives at their home, along with a young boy. A letter is handed to William Snr, from his brother Henry. In the letter Henry explains how after a fall he was unable to play or entertain, which resulted in him losing most of his friends. Through feelings of shame, he was unable to seek out his brother, and decided to travel, hoping to secure a fortune again. Instead, the natives of the island they travelled to, after hearing him play the violin, have held him and his son, also named Henry, captive for years. His hand has again become weak, fearful he may not be able to play for much longer, which could put his son in danger, he has managed, with help, to secure safe passage to England for the boy. He asks William for forgiveness, requesting that William let the boy live with him, and to blame any ignorance they find the boy has on his teachings. William Snr reaction to the boy is a show of instant affection and acceptance. At first his wife behaves rather aloofly, until she considers how the public will respond. She decides to treat Henry Jnr as her own son, for it will excite her friends and she will be viewed as heroic, making her enemies jealous. For William Jnr, he is not jealous of Henry, instead he looks forward to his new cousin being surprised and in awe of William Jnr's superiority. While for Henry, he at first takes William Snr to be a little man, given his attitude and demeanour, until he is convince William Jn
