The duel in Britain, 1780-1845
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Nottingham
Department Name: School of English
Abstract
Between 1785-1845, more than 280 people were killed in duels in Britain (Banks, 2012). My project will provide the first study of the duel as both social phenomenon and narrative device in British and British Imperial culture, 1780-1845. My work will be informed by Leigh's survey of duelling in Europe 1637-1918 (2015), Low's study of early modern duelling (2003), work on gender and violence (e.g. Shoemaker, 2001; Wolfson, 2006), and honour and class in British India (e.g. Nechtman, 2010; Sramek, 2011). My project will use literary and para-literary sources to show how duelling: formalised and legitimised the enactment of violence; reflected contemporary ideas of masculinity; and enabled women writers to explore women's roles and female agency.
The four chapters of my thesis address the following questions:
1. Duelling and masculinity: How do societal expectations of traditional masculinity impact on representations and receptions of duelling?
2. Femininity, female agency, and the duel: How is the duel used to explore concepts of female weakness, and conversely to represent female agency and empowerment through the subversion of expected gender roles within male-centric spaces?
3. Duelling in British domestic politics and society: How do representations of duelling reflect social and political tensions in late eighteenth and early nineteenth century Britain: e.g. between conservative and revolutionary ideas?
4. Duelling and British Imperialism: How does the institution of duelling embody and engage with the values and concerns of a militarised colonial society?
My research will use literary-historical methodologies and archival study, drawing on texts by male and female British writers (e.g. Frances Burney, Charlotte Smith, William Godwin, Amelia Opie, Maria Edgeworth, Mary Shelley). I will pay attention to previously overlooked colonial/imperial contexts for duelling by analysing memoirs and periodicals of British India (e.g. William Hickey, periodicals of the 1820s and 1830s) and, drawing on work by Ian Haywood, explore visual representations of duelling (including cartoons by Isaac Cruikshank and Charles Green).
My project will impact on scholarly understanding of the relationship between masculine identities and violence/conflict in the Romantic period and, because Romanticism shaped modern ideas of the individual, more recently. My focus on British and imperial representations will add to understanding of the intersections between early nineteenth century Britain and its nascent empire. My research will impact on ideas of duelling at a time when public interest in the subject is increasing, as demonstrated by: popular culture (e.g. Bridgerton, 2020 and Hamilton, 2015); the heritage sector (Man Up! exhibition, Chawton House, 2020) and online exhibitions (e.g. Wellcomecollection.org 'Duelling Doctors', 2021).
I have successfully completed year 1 of a part-time PhD. I am on track to have first full drafts of Chapters 1 and 2 by the end of Year 2 (Year 1 FT equivalent). If awarded M4C funding I would switch to full-time study. I would use the first year of this to research and write Chapter 4; and the following one to research and complete chapter 3; leaving the final six months to edit and finalise the thesis in anticipation of
submission.
The four chapters of my thesis address the following questions:
1. Duelling and masculinity: How do societal expectations of traditional masculinity impact on representations and receptions of duelling?
2. Femininity, female agency, and the duel: How is the duel used to explore concepts of female weakness, and conversely to represent female agency and empowerment through the subversion of expected gender roles within male-centric spaces?
3. Duelling in British domestic politics and society: How do representations of duelling reflect social and political tensions in late eighteenth and early nineteenth century Britain: e.g. between conservative and revolutionary ideas?
4. Duelling and British Imperialism: How does the institution of duelling embody and engage with the values and concerns of a militarised colonial society?
My research will use literary-historical methodologies and archival study, drawing on texts by male and female British writers (e.g. Frances Burney, Charlotte Smith, William Godwin, Amelia Opie, Maria Edgeworth, Mary Shelley). I will pay attention to previously overlooked colonial/imperial contexts for duelling by analysing memoirs and periodicals of British India (e.g. William Hickey, periodicals of the 1820s and 1830s) and, drawing on work by Ian Haywood, explore visual representations of duelling (including cartoons by Isaac Cruikshank and Charles Green).
My project will impact on scholarly understanding of the relationship between masculine identities and violence/conflict in the Romantic period and, because Romanticism shaped modern ideas of the individual, more recently. My focus on British and imperial representations will add to understanding of the intersections between early nineteenth century Britain and its nascent empire. My research will impact on ideas of duelling at a time when public interest in the subject is increasing, as demonstrated by: popular culture (e.g. Bridgerton, 2020 and Hamilton, 2015); the heritage sector (Man Up! exhibition, Chawton House, 2020) and online exhibitions (e.g. Wellcomecollection.org 'Duelling Doctors', 2021).
I have successfully completed year 1 of a part-time PhD. I am on track to have first full drafts of Chapters 1 and 2 by the end of Year 2 (Year 1 FT equivalent). If awarded M4C funding I would switch to full-time study. I would use the first year of this to research and write Chapter 4; and the following one to research and complete chapter 3; leaving the final six months to edit and finalise the thesis in anticipation of
submission.
