Italy of the Grand Tour : The Representation of Italy in Two Novels

Abstract: This thesis examines the representation of Italy and Italians in Henry James’ Daisy Miller and E.M. Forster’s Where Angels Fear to Tread. In a close reading of the two novels, with the use of the theory of the Triangle of Representation and the concept of Imperialist nostalgia, recurring themes in connection to the Grand Tour have been found. While both novels have already been studied in connection to the concepts of freedom, family, and homosexuality, not much has been written about the novels in connection to the Grand Tour studies and representation. Divided into three sections, this paper first defines representation and Christopher Prendergast’s Triangle of Representation, both in close connection to the concept of the gaze. Then, it gives a short historical context of the Grand Tour, to give the reader the necessary background for understanding both of the analysed novels. It then continues explaining the idea of nostalgia and, more specifically, Renato Ronaldo’s concept of Imperialist nostalgia. Finally, the paper analyses the two novels in detail in connection to the mentioned theory, connecting the two authors to the Grand Tour and their experiences in Italy.