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Francesca Broadhead
Research Student,
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Research Summary
In my thesis, ''Life is truly hard for these poor creatures.' Representations of Animals in Polar Literature,' I intend to explore the various roles animals play in western polar exploration… read more
Current Research
In my thesis, ''Life is truly hard for these poor creatures.' Representations of Animals in Polar Literature,' I intend to explore the various roles animals play in western polar exploration literature and look at the similarities and differences of indigenous attitudes to animals. My aim, through studying fictional and non-fictional texts, is to consider the dual nature of what it tells us about the human desire to in one way be connected to nature, yet also the human need to control and exploit the creatures around us. My particular focus is on Captain Scott in the Antarctic whose compassion for animals often came into conflict with the demands from his role in the Navy and as a leader of two expeditions for reach the South Pole.
My research questions include:
- How does Captain Scott's compassion for animals in the Antarctic influence his reputation as a leader and discussions about his masculinity.
- What does polar literature tell us about the human desire to in one way be connected to nature, yet also the human need to control and exploit the creatures around us?
- If and how people's attitude to the animals found in the polar regions changed after living side by side with animals over a prolonged amount of time?
- What conflicting emotional reactions to animals can be found in polar literature and what can it tell us about explorers and indigenous attitudes to animals?
- Why are some animals considered important and worth caring for in the narratives while others are either attacked or simply ignored?
- If and how ideas on anthropomorphism, speciesism and hierarchy in polar literature might contrast from indigenous attitudes and experiences to animals?
- How are animals, both real and imagined, used to represent the descent into madness through the distress of being in such extreme environments in the Arctic and Antarctic?