Accepted

I would like to express my gratitude to those in the English Department who made my years as a graduate student enlightening and enjoyable. 1 especially want to thank Dr. Patrick W. Shaw, my dissertation committee chair, whose philosophies have had a considerable influence on my own and whose patience and advice have guided me to this point. In addition. Dr. Bryce Conrad and Dr. Mary Jane Hurst aided this project with significant insight through their suggestions on sources, ideas, and issues of violence; I appreciate their mentoring. On a more personal note, I would like to thank my parents, from whom I learned balance; they encouraged me to read when I was a child, and when I couldn't stop, they urged me to "put down the book and go outside. " Appreciation is also extended to Janita Hopkins, a dear fiiend who has helped me diffuse ftiistration in addition to proofi^eading early drafts. Finally, I would like to express my gratitude to David Majoras, my husband and soul mate, whose gentle support and encouragement through the years have somehow managed to override my doubts. But above all, I would like to express deep gratitude to my children, Teddy and Sara North, who cannot remember when I was not i