Geoghegan, Elizabeth Erin.

Romantic friendships, or raves as they were commonly called, were a common element of the culture of girl's schools in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. However, the impact of sexologists' theories served to pathologize and stigmatize these relationships. Muriel Spark was a product of the girl's school education in the post-Freudian era. While many scholars have studied The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie for its spiritual or moral content, few have discussed the sexuality and lesbian content in the novel. This thesis discusses the sexual dynamics of the two main characters, Jean Brodie and Sandy Stranger, while taking into account the social, psychological, and biographical influences on Spark's novel. Romantic friendship is a compelling force in the narrative which drives each character in their vacillation between loyalty and betrayal.