“HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN AND THE DISCOURSE OF THE DOMINATED”

JACK ZIPES

Jessica Brumley, Alliah Davis, & Alexandra Wolfe

THESIS

Jack Zipes discusses how Hans Christian Andersen’s desire and struggle to ascend his social position in 19th century Europe significantly influenced the synthesis of his literature.

HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSON STRUGGLED WITH HIS

INTEGRATION INTO THE UPPER CLASS

Hans Christian Anderson strongly desired to be completely accepted by upper class nobility

Despite Hans Christian Anderson’s great success as a writer, his proletarian family background restrained his efforts to rise from the dominated class and into the dominating circle. This inspired his belief in natural nobility.“…he devoutly believed that certain biologically determined people were chosen by divine providence to rise above others.” Zipes, 248.

Andersen rationalized his need for recognition by the upper classes by asserting his own artistry as God given gifts that merited his progression in social hierarchy

HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN INFUSED HIS OWN DOMINATED L IFE INTO HIS

TALES BY DEMONSTRATING A COMMON THREAD

Andersen was born in a ‘Lumpenproletariat” society

“In almost all of Andersen’s early tales, he focuses on lower-class or disenfranchised protagonists, who work their way up and into society.” Zipes, 279

His tales are essential because they exposed similar motifs such as ““significance of providence, the essence of geniality, the role of the artist, the treatment of women, and the system of patronage.” Zipes, 271

HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSON APPEALED TO THE LOWER CLASS BECAUSE HE SPOKE FROM HIS OWN EXPERIENCE

AND STRUGGLES

“Everything In It’s Right Place” Zipes, 293.

“The Gardener and His Master” Zipes, 298.

“Andersen’s genius, despite his servility, rested in his inability to prevent himself from loathing all that he admired.” Zipes, 303.

EVALUATIONJack Zipes makes an excellent argument establishing Hans Christian Andersen’s conflict with social order and how it translated into his literary tales. The evidence he uses, including excerpts from the works of Noëlle Bisseret, Finn Hauberg Mortensen, and Hans Christian Andersen himself enhance his argument by giving the reader a stronger insight into 19th century Europe and motive behind Andersen’s work. In addition, Zipes’ use of Andersen’s actual literary fairy tales into his argument to connect his assertions could probably convince the most skeptical readers. Jack Zipes' argument relates to other scholarship's such as "Hansel and Gretel" and "Molly Whoopie" because hidden within these other fairy tales is a symbolic struggle with being lower class.