Orphans in Literature

Orphans in Literature by Heather Lyons

Hello! Welcome to my Orphans in Literature Exhibit. After being struck by the experience of the orphans in Home Fire, I was interested in exploring how orphanhood shows up in other texts.

I learned that orphan stories are present across both time and space, and that they can be very different from each other.

Authors can have varying reasons for writing about orphans. They may need a character to be seen as an underdog, or possibly have a richer independence than they would with built-in guardian figures.

The personal qualities and motives of these orphans also differ. Some orphaned characters seek to form an identity. Others want belonging and a family unit.

Treatment of society is another important way to analyze orphanhood in literature. Orphanhood can be shameful, opportunistic, critical, or barely important depending on the audience.

With these elements in mind, I've tried to analyze the condition of orphanhood in each of my chosen texts. For instructions on how to view this exhibit, please read the Navigation record. Thank you for being here and happy viewing!