Evolution, idealism, and individualism in May Kendall's comic verse
Abstract
Kendall's poetry is frequently read with a focus on its critique of the complacency of human anthropocentric interpretation of Darwinian evolution. The argument in this article, however, is that the tendency to focus on Darwinism in isolation has obscured the breadth of Kendall's interests. The passing reference to Kant and Hegel in a poem such as "Lay of the Trilobite" is an example of her sustained consideration of one of the most prominent intellectual trends in late-Victorian Britain: the revival of idealist philosophy. Kendall's comic verse encapsulates and interrogates the connections between several important aspects of late-Victorian culture. Her thinking about idealism informs and is informed by her views on Darwinism, and both in turn constitute parts of the ethical foundation of her belief in social reform.
Citation
Tate , G 2020 , ' Evolution, idealism, and individualism in May Kendall's comic verse ' , English Literature in Transition 1880 - 1920 , vol. 63 , no. 3 , pp. 429-451 . < https://muse.jhu.edu/article/751275 >
Publication
English Literature in Transition 1880 - 1920
Status
Peer reviewed
ISSN
0013-8339Type
Journal article
Rights
Copyright © 2020 English Literature in Transition, 1880-1920. This work has been made available online in accordance with publisher policies or with permission. Permission for further reuse of this content should be sought from the publisher or the rights holder. This is the author created accepted manuscript following peer review and may differ slightly from the final published version. The final published version of this work is available at https://muse.jhu.edu/article/751275
Collections
Items in the St Andrews Research Repository are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.