LaPlante, Rebecca Marie Villelli. “The Philosophic Moment of Clarity”, Boston College, 2007. http://hdl.handle.net/2345/506.
Abstract
One way in which these ideas and influences are presented to humanity is through literature. By illustrating the processes and insights of the characters in search of the answers to these ultimate questions, novels can successfully portray the philosophical moment of clarity. Two novels in which the reader gains an insight into this moment of clarity are Virginia Woolf's To the Lighthouse and Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness. Each of these novels provides a different lens, focus and conclusion in the search for what is important in life and how humanity should view the world. Both authors use literature, specifically character experiences of moments of clarity, in order to portray a philosophy to the reader. Through the medium of literature, the reader is able to emotionally engage and become invested in the outcome of the characters and conclusion of the authors. This engagement of the reader creates a unique connection which fosters the ability for the reader to identify elements of the philosophical application in his or her own life which is absent through traditional philosophical texts.
