Romanticism and Rationality: Reimagining Enlightenment and Sentimentalism in Kate Grenville’s The Lieutenant
N. Krishnaveni
Reg. No. 21111284012023, Ph.D. Research Scholar (Part-time),
Department of English, Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, Abishekapatti, Tirunelveli – 12.
Email: veninatarajan24@gmail.com
Dr. P. Vedamuthan
Assistant Professor & Research Supervisor,
Department of English, Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, Abishekapatti, Tirunelveli – 12.
Email: prof.pvm.english@gmail.com
Abstract
This article examines the paradigms of epistemological thought, namely rationalism and sentiment which act as a dynamic propulsion behind the conceptual evolution of personal perspectives and societal constructs of ideological consciousness through the often-overlooked dimensions of reason versus emotion, and the clash of enlightenment with moral subjectivity in Kate Grenville’s novel, The Lieutenant. It highlights conflict between the pursuit of rationality and moral sensitivity, and the complex manifestations of affective responses and life experiences. This critical study interrogates the challenges of universalizing Western rational doctrines to regulate the understanding and interpretation of individual and culturally specific experiences in the light of philosophical perspectives of G. E. Moore and Nietzsche reflecting on their viewpoints on goodness and moral constructs. It challenges absolute rationality, emphasizing the belief that principles of goodness and morality vary across cultures and individuals. It suggests that rationality itself may not be entirely objective, as it is shaped by individual emotions and subjective experiences. The concept of right or wrong, as well as moral judgments, could be viewed as social constructs, influenced by personal perceptions and not by universal, absolute standards. The disparity between societal norms and silenced voices exposes the shortcomings of universalism, emphasizing the need to amplify neglected viewpoints while being attuned to their emotional and cultural sensitivities.
Keywords: Power, Rationality, Romanticism, Sentimentalism, Subjugation.
