Two Answers to Every Question: Elizabeth Jolley’s Fiction, Ethics and Criticism
Abstract
Argues that close examination of her fictions shows 'Jolley continually intervening, not to provide neat judgements and solutions, but to set up several opposing ethical frameworks in each work. Through these the reader is pressed very deliberately into considering a number of possible reactions to the moral status of the events. Jolley's fictions also show evidence of her contemplating that literary criticism itself may be a force in suppressing the consideration of ethics in fiction.'
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Published 1 May 1995 in Volume 17 No. 1. Subjects: Australian literary criticism, Critical reception, Ethics, Narrative techniques, Postmodern criticism, Poststructuralism, Reader response, Elizabeth Jolley.
Cite as: Livett, Jennifer. ‘Two Answers to Every Question: Elizabeth Jolley’s Fiction, Ethics and Criticism.’ Australian Literary Studies, vol. 17, no. 1, 1995, doi: 10.20314/als.c36942cc0c.