Department of Germanic Languages & Literatures University of Toronto
Dear All,
You are warmly invited to an academic presentation by Maria Harutyunyan, a PhD candidate in the Department of Germanic Languages and Literatures.
Presentation Title:
On a Journey of Virtue: Philanthropy, Female Middle-Class Agency, and Social Distinction in 18th and 19th Century Women’s Novels
Date: Thursday, January 16, 2025
Time: 4:00 PM
Location: Odette Hall, Room 323
About the Speaker:
Maria Harutyunyan’s research focuses on the representation of female middle-class agency and distinction with relation to philanthropy in the works of women authors from the late 18th to the mid-19th centuries. Her objective is to illuminate the interconnection between philanthropy and the agency of women of the middle class from the perspective of women writers of the early industrial period.
About the Presentation:
“Oh, if the love of my fellow-creatures had not stuck its roots so deeply in my heart as to be incorporated with my very self-love, what would have become of me?” (LaRoche, 135).
In Sophie von LaRoche’s 18th-century novel, the intricate relationship between self-love and love for others plays a pivotal role in the character development of the protagonist, Sophie Sternheim. This dynamic is reflected in the concept of philanthropy, which reveals the complexities of human nature by highlighting the tension between altruism and egoism. The notion of altruistic egoism is exemplified through the character of Sternheim, whose philanthropic actions reconcile these seemingly contradictory forces. By intertwining both altruism and egoism, her philanthropy serves not only as a means of assisting the underprivileged but also as a vehicle for gaining personal agency and emphasizing middle-class distinction.
In her dissertation project, Maria H. explores the representation of female middle-class agency and distinction with relation to philanthropy in the works of female authors from the late 18th to the mid-19th centuries. Her objective is to illuminate the interconnection between philanthropy and the rising middle class from the perspective of women writers, thereby offering a unique insight into the agency of women during the early industrial period. Despite the extensive research conducted in the field of philanthropy with relation to middle class agency, the study of female philanthropy and the perspectives of women authors remains relatively underexplored. Harutyunyan’s aim is to demonstrate how the multifaceted nature of philanthropy is represented in each text, providing the female protagonists with both personal agency as well as middle-class distinction.
We look forward to welcoming you to this engaging academic talk!
