Note
Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters
Member of
Contributors
Publisher
Florida Atlantic University
Date Issued
1979
Description
The collapse of a viable world concept of order leaves John Ford's
characters with a modern problem--how to behave without demonstrable
and reliable principles upon which to base their actions. The
individualists among them try to establish order by mere affirmation
of opinion. Other personae cling to the sacred, conservative value
of the vow or contract, and are either the agents or the victims of
the gulf between their avowed principles and the pragmatic demands
of a "corrupt" world. Many characters also attempt to find
reassurance in the predictable patterns of ritual behavior, only
to discover the inefficacy of such ritual to protect them from or
console them for a personal loss of meaning in their world. Ford's
characters become "existential" figures, even though the models they
adopt are often relics of the past (vows, rituals) which they must
simply affirm, by their performances, bereft of the metaphysical
support they might once have had.
characters with a modern problem--how to behave without demonstrable
and reliable principles upon which to base their actions. The
individualists among them try to establish order by mere affirmation
of opinion. Other personae cling to the sacred, conservative value
of the vow or contract, and are either the agents or the victims of
the gulf between their avowed principles and the pragmatic demands
of a "corrupt" world. Many characters also attempt to find
reassurance in the predictable patterns of ritual behavior, only
to discover the inefficacy of such ritual to protect them from or
console them for a personal loss of meaning in their world. Ford's
characters become "existential" figures, even though the models they
adopt are often relics of the past (vows, rituals) which they must
simply affirm, by their performances, bereft of the metaphysical
support they might once have had.
Language
Type
Form
Extent
42 p.
Subject (Topical)
Identifier
13980
Additional Information
Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters
Thesis (M.A.)--Florida Atlantic University, 1979.
FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection
Date Backup
1979
Date Text
1979
Date Issued (EDTF)
1979
Extension
FAU
FAU
admin_unit="FAU01", ingest_id="ing1508", creator="staff:fcllz", creation_date="2007-07-19 01:55:17", modified_by="staff:fcllz", modification_date="2011-01-06 13:09:04"
IID
FADT13980
Issuance
monographic
Organizations
Attributed name: Florida Atlantic University
Person Preferred Name
GRIER, WILLIAM ROGER.
Graduate College
Physical Description
42 p.
application/pdf
Title Plain
AFFIRMATION, VOWS AND RITUAL AS STRUCTURING DEVICES IN JOHN FORD'S PLAYS
Use and Reproduction
Copyright © is held by the author, with permission granted to Florida Atlantic University to digitize, archive and distribute this item for non-profit research and educational purposes. Any reuse of this item in excess of fair use or other copyright exemptions requires permission of the copyright holder.
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Origin Information
1979
monographic
Boca Raton, Fla.
Florida Atlantic University
Physical Location
Florida Atlantic University Libraries
Place
Boca Raton, Fla.
Sub Location
Digital Library
Title
AFFIRMATION, VOWS AND RITUAL AS STRUCTURING DEVICES IN JOHN FORD'S PLAYS
Other Title Info
AFFIRMATION, VOWS AND RITUAL AS STRUCTURING DEVICES IN JOHN FORD'S PLAYS