Olive SchreinerOlive Schreiner’’s s

The Dawn of The Dawn of

Civilisation(1921):Civilisation(1921):

A potential socioA potential socio--

historiographical historiographical

key?key?

by Carl Kieckby Carl Kieck

Edinburgh University Edinburgh University

1.1. A A ““challengingchallenging””(elusive) subject:(elusive) subject:

•• Historical context Historical context –– emphasis L. Victorianemphasis L. Victorian

•• ManyMany--sided legacy: literature, polemics, activism sided legacy: literature, polemics, activism

and life(correspondence)and life(correspondence)

•• Writing: unique & Writing: unique & ““incompleteincomplete””

•• Early attempts: Early attempts: ““preservepreserve”” legacylegacy

•• Scholarship Scholarship –– literary gravity & post.col.literary gravity & post.col.

•• New DirectionsNew Directions

•• Question: methodological quandary?Question: methodological quandary?

2.2. SocioSocio--historiographical approach:historiographical approach:

•• Suggestive of Suggestive of ““comprehensivenesscomprehensiveness”” needed(all needed(all

available evidence) available evidence) –– beyond literary beyond literary ……

•• Combination: various Combination: various ““disparatedisparate”” elementselements

•• Promise: comparative scopePromise: comparative scope

•• Redress: literary inclinationRedress: literary inclination

•• Historical context/sHistorical context/s

•• ““New InformationNew Information””: archival angle: archival angle

•• Openness: new concerns and angles Openness: new concerns and angles ……

3.3. ““Topic?Topic?””: Olive Schreiner and War: Olive Schreiner and War

•• Focus of project: WWI and SA WarFocus of project: WWI and SA War

•• Ongoing Ongoing ““Critique of ConflictCritique of Conflict””: SA encounter: SA encounter

•• ““ProposalsProposals”” for sociofor socio--political ameliorationpolitical amelioration

•• Ideal society: reconstruction Ideal society: reconstruction -- multiplicity sourcesmultiplicity sources

•• The Dawn of Civilisation(1921&1924)The Dawn of Civilisation(1921&1924)

•• Explicit statement: Pacifism and conscientious Explicit statement: Pacifism and conscientious

objectionobjection

•• Potential: starting point Potential: starting point

sociosocio--historiographical approach?historiographical approach?

4. 4. The Dawn of Civilisation(1921):The Dawn of Civilisation(1921):

•• ““Last will and testamentLast will and testament””? Review? Review…… prioritiespriorities

•• Personal revelation(Personal revelation(““ConfessionConfession””))

•• Origins of War(instinctual)Origins of War(instinctual)

•• SchreinerSchreiner’’s response to Wars response to War

•• Individualism and mysticismIndividualism and mysticism

•• OpenOpen--ended ended ““ConfessionConfession””: hermeneutic: hermeneutic

potentialitypotentiality

•• Invites Invites ““completioncompletion””, interpretation and, interpretation and

application application -- retrospectivelyretrospectively

5. 5. DawnDawn’’ss Relevance & Applicability:Relevance & Applicability:

•• WWI: Pacifism, C/O, Hague Peace WWI: Pacifism, C/O, Hague Peace

Conference, Activists, Other Writing,Conference, Activists, Other Writing,

Intellectual GroupsIntellectual Groups

•• Immediate relation: Edward Carpenter, Immediate relation: Edward Carpenter,

HavelockHavelock--Ellis and Edith EllisEllis and Edith Ellis

•• Longitudinal potential: triangulationLongitudinal potential: triangulation

(lives, activism, writing and contacts)(lives, activism, writing and contacts)

•• ““ConsciousnessConsciousness””: always present, past : always present, past

too too -- UNITYUNITY

•• Retrospective: not only development,Retrospective: not only development,

Feminism: women and war; SA Union;Feminism: women and war; SA Union;

SA War; New Imperialism & RhodesSA War; New Imperialism & Rhodes

•• Most basic level: opposition conflict and Most basic level: opposition conflict and

violence violence -- approximate encapsulationapproximate encapsulation

•• Cumulatively: potent methodological Cumulatively: potent methodological ““keykey””

•• DawnDawn basis for sociobasis for socio--historiographical historiographical

approach emphasis: war and peaceapproach emphasis: war and peace

6. 6. Conclusion:Conclusion:•• Hermeneutical key: hopefulness in Hermeneutical key: hopefulness in

allegory allegory Dawn of CivilisationDawn of Civilisation

•• Imagery of (reImagery of (re--)birth: rebirth of society)birth: rebirth of society

•• Transition: early twentieth century thinker Transition: early twentieth century thinker

•• Ever present optimism for a better worldEver present optimism for a better world

•• Transformation of societyTransformation of society

““Somewhere, some time, some place Somewhere, some time, some place ––

even on earth!even on earth!””