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Library's collection Library's IT development CancelThis thesis is written to analyse the tragic and epic
qualities of the main female character in the Barren Ground
written by Ellen Glasgow. In order to prove the writer's
hypothesis concerning the existence of the tragic and epic
qualities which are manifested in the heroine's life, the
research is commenced by studying the heroine's conflicts
and her characterizations. Then, from the whole discussion,
it can be verified that Dorinda Oakley, the main female
character, possesses the tragic and epic qualities. The
tragic qualities can be seen when Dorinda Oakley's feeling
is injured by Greylocks' betrayal. And due to this
incident, she works very hard to manage her life well and
appears as a successful landowner. Indeed, her success
regains her prestige and self-confidence. She seems to
believe in her own ability to run her life well and objects
her need for love. Then, when her husband and her ex-lover
die, she starts realizing the importance of love for her
life. She regrets her own attitude so far which has wasted
her youth by ignoring the significance of love. Now, she
discovers that her life is empty and lonely. Meanwhile, by
the emergence of Oakley's realization which marks the
character development, the epic qualities can be seen.
Indeed, at the end of the story she even can survive and be
a winner over the hard life.