Headlong Hall (Cyclopedia of Literary Characters)
At a glance:
- Author: Thomas Love Peacock
- First Published: 1816
- Type of Work: Novel
- Type of Plot: Satire
- Time of Work: Early nineteenth century
- Setting: An estate in Caernarvonshire in North Wales
- Genres: Long fiction, Satire
- Subjects: Philosophy or philosophers, Nineteenth century, Manners or customs, Good and evil, Wit or humor, Corruption, Progress, Satire, Pretensions, Wales or Welsh people, Balls
- Locales: Caernarvonshire, Wales
Characters Discussed
Mr. Escot, a philosopher of the “deteriorationist” school. Heavily influenced by the ideas of Jean-Jacques Rousseau, he believes that the condition of humankind has been corrupted by civilization and luxury and is physically degenerate in comparison with conditions of prehistoric ancestors. As with all of his fellow guests at Headlong Hall, however, he does not allow his doom-laden judgments to detract from his enjoyment of the weekend’s entertainments. Nor does his pessimism inhibit his ardent courtship of the lovely Cephalis Cranium, during the...
[The entire page is 850 words long]
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