Name Wakana ICHIHASHI
Title Studies of Aging Society and Volunteers: Learning from the National Trust
Supervisor Prof. Chihiro KATO
Summary
The purpose of this thesis is to examine the importance of older adult volunteers in an aging society. In Japan, the aging problem is one of the most serious problems. To solve aging problems, I indicate the importance of older adult volunteers. As the model of volunteer program, I surveyed the National Trust. The National Trust is one of the biggest volunteer organizations in the UK. This thesis statement is to learn the volunteer programs from the National Trust.
First, I made clear the merits of older adult volunteers. Next, I studied about the National Trust, and I considered whether volunteer programs of National Trust are be the model of Japanese volunteer programs. Finally, I examined the importance of volunteers education.
I investigated the National Trust volunteer program. As a result, I found that volunteer programs of the National Trust cannot be used in Japan. However, there were many programs for volunteers. Due to this program, over 60,000 volunteers support the National Trust. In Japan, we should learn about volunteer programs from the National Trust.
In this thesis, I discovered that education of volunteers is important to increase elderly volunteers. Thus I researched about the American volunteer education called “Service-Learning”. But I pointed out that Service-Learning system cannot be introduced in Japan, because there are many differences between the American and
Japanese educational systems. Therefore in this paper, I concluded thatit is important to find a new volunteer system, especially a volunteer educational system, in Japan. This thesis is significant in that it shows new issues from learning volunteer program of the National Trust.
Name Maki KOBAYASHI Title Fantasies in the 1950s:
Country House as a Symbol of English Tradition Supervisor Prof. Chihiro KATO
Summary
The purpose of this thesis is to consider the theme of British fantasies published in the 1950s and shed light on their value. The main fantasies in the 1950s were set in country houses. The thesis explores why country houses appear in fantasies in the 1950s.
First, I considered what happened in the 1950s which would influence fantasies. Second, I explained the hypothesis that country houses appear in fantasies as a symbol of English tradition, and verified this hypothesis by analyzing three fantasies: The
Borrowers, The Children of Green Knowe, Tom's Midnight Garden. Finally, I examined how country houses can be regarded as a symbol of English tradition through interviews in England.
I found that fantasy reflects contemporary social condition. In the 1950s, British people experienced social and cultural change and the collapse of traditional values. I framed a hypothesis that country houses appear in fantasies because of such conditions, and are depicted as a symbol of English tradition and the past before change. In three fantasies, social change and the end of English tradition was reflected in the description of country houses. In The Borrowers, the end of traditional lifestyle and order was described in borrowers and country houses. In The Children of Green Knowe, Green Knowe was the symbol of the past which healed the loneliness of the protagonist. And in Tom's Midnight Garden, the message is that the past becomes memory and heals grief.
Finally, I discovered that country houses can be regarded as the symbol of English tradition from the result of interviews in England.
Name Junna TOMONAGA
Title The Transition of Les Misérables: Why is the Musical loved more than the novel?
Supervisor Prof. Chihiro KATO
Summary
The purpose of this thesis is to clarify the reason why the musical Les Misérables is loved examining differences between the Hugo’s original work and the musical adaptation. The musical is the longest-running musical in London. Although the novel is famous all over the world, it is more difficult than the musical. In this thesis the novel and the musical are compared to make clear differences between them.
First, I stated the history of France in the 19th century and the life of the Les
Misérables’ writer, Victor Hugo, as background. Second, I analyzed the characteristics of the novel Les Misérables to explore the process of changes from the novel to the musical. Third, I found the reason why the musical is popular all over the world by revealing these differences.
In the 19th century France, new values leading to the present age, and called Romanticism, were constructed. Hugo succeeded as a Romanticism writer, politician and social activist. He wrote Les Misérables after he became conscious of his Republican leanings. Thus the novel by Hugo included themes not only of poverty but also Hugo’s thoughts about social progress, religion and republicanism. While the novel included several themes, the musical is the story of the people who were oppressed by poverty. The music contributed to emphasize the feelings of characters.
In this paper I observed why the musical Les Misérables is popular among the world from the process of transition from novel to musical. The novel is complicated
due to the parts where Hugo included his own thoughts. On the other hand, the musical is simpler, deleting Hugo’s complex thoughts and focusing only on the theme of poverty which is the common issue in the world. The significance of this thesis is to clarify the importance of the musical in popular culture.
Name Sakura NAKAMURA
Title Symbol of Oliver Twist in British Society:
The Class Consciousness from a Life of Dickens and His Work Supervisor Prof. Chihiro KATO
Summary
The purpose of this thesis is to examine the view of social class consciousness in
Oliver Twist written by Charles Dickens. Oliver Twist is one of the most famous novels by Dickens. The subject of this work was the New Poor Law in 1834. Dickens pointed out the misery of life in workhouses and inhumane attitude of government officials. A characteristic of his work was to satirize British social problems with a viewpoint of the weak. However, I doubted whether Dickens wrote Oliver Twist with a viewpoint of the weak. This thesis explores Dickens’s viewpoint in Oliver Twist.
First, I explored Dickens’s life and how he gained a viewpoint of the weak. Second, I examined the background of Dickens’s writing of the novel and considered how satires and an ending gave a hope to the lower class. Finally, I pointed out defects in Oliver Twist, and considered the reason of the defects based on Victorian lives. I also concluded whether Dickens wrote with a viewpoint of the lower class or middle class.
I discovered Dickens suffered a life of the lower class after falling from the middle class. Then he gained the lower viewpoint and strong attachment to the life of the middle class. In the novel, he gave a hope and sense of security to the lower class. However, the novel had many defects which meant supporting the middle class. Therefore, Dickens had a viewpoint of the middle class in writing Oliver Twist.
After all these considerations, I discovered Oliver Twist was written supporting the middle class rather than giving hope for the lower class. Thus, I conclude Dickens
wrote with a viewpoint of the middle class in Oliver Twist. This thesis is significant in that it shows new interpretation about Dickens’s viewpoint.
Name Mao NISHIZAKO
Title Jane Austen’s Landscape View: From the Viewpoint of Picturesque Supervisor Prof. Chihiro KATO
Summary
The purpose of this thesis is to explore Jane Austen’s landscape view. There are many landscape depictions and conversations about English landscape in her works. It shows her great interest in landscape. Many researchers have indicated her interest, however, interpretations of her position on Picturesque are divided. This thesis reveals Austen’s position on picturesque, and examines the full picture of her landscape view.
First, I introduced two powerful interpretations about Austen’s position on picturesque, and presented a hypothesis that she was consistently negative about picturesque from the beginning of her writing. Second, I analyzed her works and verified my hypothesis. Third, I considered what her ideal landscape was.
Austen often used words and expressions connected with picturesque in her works, however, it always implied some connotations. This indicated her negative attitude towards picturesque. I considered it was due to the gap between picturesque landscape and natural landscape of England. The former was excessively artificial. Many people in her time preferred this kind of varied landscape, but she realized that it was different from natural landscape of England. Her ideal landscape was the bare landscape such as Steventon and Chawton where she used to live.
After all these considerations, I revealed that Austen was negative about picturesque and satirized it in her works. And I concluded she attempted to present the crude country landscape of England as English landscape worth praising.
