An analysis of genesis of Mendelson's writing with particular focus on her British-Jewish background.
So far, the British-Jewish novelist Charlotte Mendelson has published four books, namely "Love in Idleness" (2001), "Daughters of Jerusalem" (2003), "When We Were Bad" (2007), and "Almost English" (2013), which could all be typified as intercultural coming-of-age novels. The main source of inspiration appears to be Mendelson’s own multi-ethnic background. – She was born in London in 1972 and grew up in St John’s College, Oxford, where her father taught public international law. But even though she is English-born and has a Cockney grandfather, Mendelson identifies herself as not in the least English since her paternal grandmother stemmed from “’Latvia and Poland’” (qtd. in Westbrook) and her maternal grandparents were “’Hungarian-speaking-Czech, Ruthenian for about 10 minutes [and also somewhat] Carpathian mountainy’” (qtd. in Edemariam) and came to England with “the last train out of Prague” (Mendelson) fleeing from the Nazis as Jewish refugees (cf. Mendelson).
Especially her maternal grandparents are a lasting inspiration for Mendelson. Her “’Hungarian side is the side [she] like[s] showing off the most’” (qtd. in Westbrook) and is repeatedly referred to in interviews. Her hybrid background “has enabled [Mendelson] to become an essentially diasporic writer” (Cheyette, Diaspora and Multiculturalism 54)
When reading Mendelson’s novels in chronological order, it seems as if her writing has undergone some development. Recurring topics and tropes, such as living in a supposedly “cryptic” family microcosm and the difficulties of finding one’s identity in circumstances that resemble “exile”, are condensed, deepened, and shaped into more complex versions.
Hence, her work seems to display a form of literary genesis with the latest publication, the Booker-nominated AE, the climax of Mendelson’s oeuvre so far. True to the notion that a Jewish writer is not necessarily one who charters the word ‘Jew’ in his writings, but the one for whom the word ‘Jew’ is contained in all the words of the dictionary” (Jabés qtd. in Brauner 185), Mendelson repeatedly uses themes which are very characteristic in Jewish writing, including problems in identity formation, feeling left out and suffering from unspoken truths about the experiences of ancestors (related to the Holocaust).
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Charlotte Mendelson and the “Jewish Condition”
2.1 Holocaust Aftermath: Starting Afresh in Great Britain
2.2 Contemporary Jewish Identities in the UK: Charlotte Mendelson as a British-Jewish Subject and Novelist
3. Dark Heart(s): Family Secrets and Hidden Selves in the Works of Charlotte Mendelson
3.1 Family as a Potentially Problematic Microcosm and the Effect of Family Secrets on Individual (Younger) Members
3.2 Almost English – Assimilation and Negotiation: Trying to Fit In
3.3 Excursus: Engaging with Stereotypes (Based on the Example of Mendelson’s Portrayal of Jewish/Jew-ish Mothers)
4. Conclusion
Objectives and Research Focus
This master's thesis explores the literary work of British-Jewish author Charlotte Mendelson, specifically analyzing the themes of identity, diaspora, and family dynamics. It investigates how recurring motifs, such as family secrets, disrupted communication, and the search for identity, are shaped by the author's background and the broader context of British-Jewish literature.
- The role of family microcosms and trans-generational secrets in identity formation.
- The influence of diasporic history and the Holocaust on British-Jewish consciousness.
- Mendelson’s literary exploration of assimilation and the feeling of "not belonging."
- The portrayal of the "Jewish mother" stereotype and its subversion in Mendelson’s novels.
Excerpt from the Book
Family as a Potentially Problematic Microcosm and the Effect of Family Secrets on Individual (Younger) Members
A plethora of critical flows and theories such as post-structuralism, deconstructivism, social constructionist theory, mental history and nouvelle histoire as well as multiculturalist and minority based approaches have changed the concept of memory fundamentally. The American philosopher Edward Casey has argues that human personality is “’made of memories’” (qtd. in Gilbert 22) which “seems at an intuitive level to be right. But what does such an assertion really mean? What are the implications of placing memory at the centre of ourselves?
As Anne Whitehead has argued, memory is not an ahistorical concept” (Gilbert 22). In regard to the diasporic Jewish population, Jewish scholar Yosef Yerushalmi has stated that for them “‘Zakhor’, the command to remember, is [of profound importance as] both a repeated biblical command and a structuring cultural principle” (Gilbert 21).
Chapter Summary
1. Introduction: Outlines the state of British-Jewish literature and introduces Charlotte Mendelson’s work as a lens through which to explore identity and family dynamics.
2. Charlotte Mendelson and the “Jewish Condition”: Examines the historical and sociological context of Jewish diaspora in Britain and defines Mendelson’s own position as a contemporary British-Jewish writer.
3. Dark Heart(s): Family Secrets and Hidden Selves in the Works of Charlotte Mendelson: Provides an in-depth analysis of family microcosms, communication failures, and the challenges of assimilation across Mendelson’s four novels.
4. Conclusion: Summarizes how Mendelson’s fiction reflects the complexities of diasporic identity, "contradictory selfhood," and the essential need for open communication in navigating family history.
Keywords
British-Jewish literature, Charlotte Mendelson, Diaspora, Identity formation, Family secrets, Assimilation, Coming-of-age, Cultural hybridity, Holocaust memory, Jewish mother stereotype, Socio-communicative memory, Exile, Anglo-Jewry, Trans-generational haunting, Narrative fiction.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this thesis?
The thesis focuses on analyzing Charlotte Mendelson’s novels to understand how she depicts the intersection of family life, ethnic identity, and the diasporic experience in Britain.
What are the central thematic fields?
The core themes include the formation of individual identity within restrictive "family microcosms," the impact of unsaid histories or "family secrets," and the psychological process of assimilation and negotiation of "otherness."
What is the primary research goal?
The goal is to analyze how Mendelson uses literary narrative to explore the "Jewish condition" and how her characters navigate the tensions between their family heritage and the dominant English culture.
Which scientific methods are utilized?
The author employs a literary analysis approach, drawing upon theories of collective memory (Maurice Halbwachs), diaspora studies, and constructivist identity theories to examine recurring tropes in Mendelson's fiction.
What does the main body of the work cover?
The main body examines the structural and thematic development of Mendelson's novels, from the individual identity struggles in Love in Idleness to the more overt engagement with Jewish cultural themes in When We Were Bad and Almost English.
Which keywords characterize this study?
Key terms include British-Jewish literature, identity, diaspora, family secrets, and the coming-of-age narrative.
How does the thesis categorize the mother figures?
The thesis identifies them as variations of the "kvetcher" stereotype—dominant, protective, and intrusive figures who influence their children's identity through silence, pressure, and the enforcement of rigid "family etiquette."
What conclusion does the author reach regarding the "failed exile" in Almost English?
The author concludes that in Almost English, the protagonist's attempt to escape her family via an English boarding school is portrayed as a failed integration effort, highlighting the difficulty of escaping one's inherited cultural and psychological makeup.
- Quote paper
- B.A. Elisa Valerie Thieme (Author), 2015, "Dark Heart(s)". Family Secrets and Hidden Selves in the Work of Charlotte Mendelson, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/292809
