The Presentation and Criticism of Ethnic Conflict in Hugh MacLennan's "Return of the Sphinx"

The novel Return of the Sphinx, written by Hugh MacLennan in 1967, is not a sociopolitical
study of English-French Canadian relations in Quebec, as many critics concluded. It
rather deals with a series of interrelated conflicts, predominantly father against son, generation
against generation and Quebec against Canada. However, the novel offers an extensive insight
into the political and ethnic situation in Canada during the radical sixties, which remains a
problematic one until today.
This paper will examine the historical development of Canada’s political instability,
the origins of the ethnic conflict within the nation and, in addition, the continuing problems
between the Québecois and the anglophone majority of the nation. In this context I will
briefly talk about French-Canadian nationalism, the so-called ‘Quiet Revolution’, and the
radicalism of the 1960s. In the second part the paper will work on the presentation and
criticism of the ethnic conflict in Return of the Sphinx. The focal point here will be on the
protagonist and his battle for a unified Canada, as well as on the antagonist and Quebec
separatism. Furthermore, this composition will concentrate on the Greek tragedy of Oedipus
Rex along with the symbolic use of the mythological figure of the sphinx1 and its association
with the state of affairs in contemporary Canada. To conclude, I will summarize the results
that follow from this work.

1 Sphinx in Greek mythology: daughter of Tyohon and the snake Echidna, a monster with the head and the breast
of a woman and the winged body of a lion.

Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)

• Introduction: Aims and Methods
• Canada and Quebec
  • Data and Facts
  • The Role of French in Quebec Society
• Social and Political Tension In French Canada
  • The Origins of the Ethnic Conflict and Its Development
  • French-Canadian Nationalism
  • The Radical Sixties
  • The 'Quiet Revolution' or 'La Révolution Tranquille’
  • Radicalism and ‘Le Front de Libération du Québec’
    • Manifesto March 1963
• Ethnic Conflict in Return of the Sphinx
  • About the Novel and its Author
  • Return of the Sphinx - Story and Characters
  • The Protagonist and his Ideal of a Unified Canada
  • The Antagonist and Quebec Nationalism
• Parallels between Return of the Sphinx and Oedipus Rex
  • Oedipus Rex - A Greek Tragedy
  • Parallels to Return of the Sphinx
  • The Situation in Canada Today

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)

This paper examines the historical development of Canada's political instability and the origins of the ethnic conflict within the nation. It explores the continuing problems between the Québécois and the anglophone majority, focusing on French-Canadian nationalism, the so-called 'Quiet Revolution', and the radicalism of the 1960s. The paper then analyzes the presentation and criticism of the ethnic conflict in Hugh MacLennan's novel "Return of the Sphinx," highlighting the protagonist's struggle for a unified Canada and the antagonist's position on Quebec separatism. Additionally, it delves into the Greek tragedy of Oedipus Rex and the symbolic use of the mythological figure of the sphinx in relation to the state of affairs in contemporary Canada.

• The historical development of Canada's political instability
• The origins of the ethnic conflict between English and French Canadians
• The role of French-Canadian nationalism and the 'Quiet Revolution'
• The portrayal of the ethnic conflict in "Return of the Sphinx"
• The symbolic use of the sphinx in relation to contemporary Canada

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)

The first chapter introduces the paper's scope and methodology, highlighting the novel "Return of the Sphinx" as a central focus. It positions the work within the context of the political and ethnic situation in Canada during the 1960s, noting its relevance to contemporary issues. The second chapter provides background information about Canada and Quebec, focusing on demographic data, the role of French in Quebec society, and the historical development of the two major ethnicities. Chapter three delves into the social and political tensions in French Canada, examining the origins of the ethnic conflict, the emergence of French-Canadian nationalism, and the radical events of the 1960s. Chapter four analyzes the novel "Return of the Sphinx" and its presentation of the ethnic conflict, highlighting the characters and their positions on a unified Canada versus Quebec separatism. Chapter five explores the parallels between the novel and the Greek tragedy of Oedipus Rex, focusing on the symbolic use of the sphinx and its relevance to contemporary Canada.

Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)

The main keywords and focus topics of this work include ethnic conflict, Canadian nationalism, Quebec separatism, "Return of the Sphinx," Hugh MacLennan, Oedipus Rex, sphinx, bilingualism, political instability, and the 'Quiet Revolution'.

Details

• College: University of Kassel (Anglistics)
• Course: Social Criticism in American and Candian Literature
• Grade: 2 (B)
• Author: Ilka Kreimendahl (Author)
• Publication Year: 2001
• Pages: 25
• Catalog Number: V16668
• ISBN (eBook): 9783638214490
• Language: English
• Tags: Presentation Criticism Ethnic Conflict Hugh MacLennan Return Sphinx Social Criticism American Candian Literature