Moving through uncertainty with George Meredith

In his life and writing George Meredith demonstrates a stoic determination to strive to move forward with optimism, expressing in his poem ‘The Woods of Westermain’ his belief in moving toward physical, mental and spiritual harmony to achieve a sense of wellbeing. Analysis of Meredith’s correspondence and work reveals his philosophy that the self-respect to be gained from being at ease with oneself and the earth results in respect for others and for the natural world. Meredith’s contribution to literature, recognised by many of his contemporaries towards the end of the nineteenth century, is acknowledged by a minority of scholars in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. J B Priestley suggests that to appreciate the complexity of Meredith’s work, it is necessary to attempt to understand the man himself. This thesis uses biographical material alongside analysis of selected poems and eight of Meredith’s thirteen novels to highlight links between themes in his writing and his personal philosophy. Researching how Meredith makes connections between health and fitness, gender roles and relationships, the developing form of the novel, and the activity of reading, the thesis focuses on the significance of mental and physical movement in Meredith’s writing. Exploration of his novels shows how he expresses unconventional views of women and relationships with subtlety, using poetic techniques in prose in a move towards a new form of fiction. In response to life’s challenges to his philosophy Meredith refers to the life cycle of the natural world, accepting that death is the only certainty and stating that it is futile for an individual to desire or seek permanence. Investigating the apparent paradox of accepting impermanence while striving to move forwards, the thesis shows how Meredith demonstrates that uncertainty allows opportunities for experimentation, Progress may be achieved by non-linear movement - moving ‘toward’ if not always ‘forward’.