Date of Award

Spring 2025

Language

English

Embargo Period

5-1-2025

Document Type

Master's Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

College/School/Department

Department of English

Program

English

First Advisor

Paul Stasi

Second Advisor

Bret Benjamin

Keywords

postcolonial, literature, adaptation, Defoe, Twain, Bronte

Subject Categories

Classical Literature and Philology | English Language and Literature | Modern Literature

Abstract

In our modern world, the concept of literary adaptation is not unheard of. Each release of a new, popular text comes with an underlying chance that it will likely be snatched up by Hollywood executives to be told through a cinematic setting. However, there is less fanfare when it comes to the topic of literary adaptation, particularly of famous texts that are deemed “classic” of the literary canon. Usually, any news of a literary adaptation of a classic book is meant with polarizing views from the general public. Some welcome the change, excited for what a new author can bring to the table; on the opposite end of the spectrum, there are some who refuse the need for any change, clamoring for the author’s work to be the only version of the text that should be read. This debate begs the question: why adapt literary works, and is there any merit to justify reworking the art of others? This thesis explores the importance of postcolonial adaptations in literature and how they provide an opportunity for greater exploration of societal matters; this is done by comparing works by Daniel Defoe, Mark Twain and Charlotte Brontë to adaptations of the original novels written by J.M Coetzee, Percival Everett, and Jean Rhys.

License

This work is licensed under the University at Albany Standard Author Agreement.

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