The Fin de Siècle Culture in Trilby: Dandyism, Philistinism, Fallen Womanhood, and True Womanhood

Abstract

This paper investigates the cultural influences referenced in du Maurier’s Trilby in order to enable readers who are familiar with literary and cultural context to better understand the subtle societal consequences of the novel. This love story, disintegrated by the intervention of social norms which is an obstacle of fallen woman issues and pure womanhood closely related to philistine weight, is displayed through a variety of characters who are engaged in different ways with dandyism, philistinism, fallen woman or true womanhood. These topics have been well known and widely researched individually, but not apparently explored as the traits of Trilby. Thus what this paper tries to uncover these issues. In doing so, this research attempts to take into account the story in relation to cultural contexts, and therefore to make the references, influences, and subtleties of the novel more informative and enjoyable.