By Megan Powell, Magali Prel, Natasha Smith and Monique Smith
Classic literature has taken on many forms throughout history, and has pioneered many other genres today. From adventure stories to gothic literature, the origins found within classic literature contain remarkable insights into the development of the literary canon. One form that is particularly interesting is the diary entry. Many writers of the time documented their experience and personal stories, while others used this form to weave an intricate plot and contribute to some of English literature's beloved classics. From Dracula to the Journals of Sylvia Plath, this feature looks at some examples of the classic diary entry.
Dangling Man by Saul Bellow
Dangling Man is a debut novel by American writer Saul Bellow, first published in 1944. It is written in a diary entry format, from the perspective of the protagonist, Joseph, a young man living in Chicago during the Second World War. The novel captures Joseph’s existential struggles while waiting to be drafted into the army.
Joseph has quit his job in anticipation of joining the army, and this unstable period has left him in a prolonged state of stagnation. As he waits, he experiences feelings of isolation, frustration and disillusionment, causing his relationships to suffer as a result, especially with his wife Iva. As the novel progresses, he becomes increasingly disconnected from society.
Through Joseph’s diary entries, Bellow explores themes of existentialism, the search for meaning and the psychological impact of uncertainty. The novel further investigates how external circumstances and inner turmoil can shape one’s identity and sense of purpose. Dangling Man is recognised as a profound and introspective novel that illustrates the angst of a man caught between his past and an uncertain future.
Dracula by Bram Stoker
The well-loved vampire classic, Dracula, explores the events following Jonathan Harker’s visit to Transylvania where mysterious occurrences begin to unfold. Bram Stoker’s epistolary novel is rather different to many classics, as it is written in the form of diary entries, newspaper clippings and letters from various narrators. This style can offer a more personal, emotive account, and often discusses the events shortly after they occur, alluding to a sense of immediacy and drama within the novel. The differing viewpoints incite suspense, therefore upholding the Victorians’ love for horror and gothic fiction.
The novel surrounds Dracula’s quest to create more vampires in England, and subsequently depicts society’s fears surrounding the struggling balance of science, modernity and superstition. Published in 1897, Stoker writes after Darwin’s scientific developments, which questioned humanity, with Dracula himself implying that he represents the survival of the fittest. Stemming from the novel are discussions regarding gender roles and sexuality in the 19th century, where Dracula promotes male dominance over its female characters. To eradicate the vampires, patriarchal order must be restored.
The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman
The Yellow Wallpaper is a short story written by American writer, Charlotte Perkins Gilman. First published in 1892, it is regarded as one of the earliest works of American feminist literature and praised for its illustration of the attitudes towards the mental and physical health of women in the 19th century.
The story is written as a collection of journal entries narrated in first person by a woman, whose physician husband has rented an old mansion for the summer to help cure her temporary nervous depression after giving birth. Gilman makes excellent use of an unreliable narrator to gradually reveal the degree to which her husband has imprisoned her. She describes torn wallpaper, barred windows, metal rings in the walls, a floor "scratched and gouged and splintered", a bed bolted to the floor and a gate at the top of the stairs – though blaming children who must have resided there.
As the reader continues through the journal entries, they experience the writer's gradual descent into madness with nothing better to do than observe the peeling yellow wallpaper in her room.
The Journals of Sylvia Plath by Sylvia Plath
Originally published in 1982, The Journals of Sylvia Plath received heavy revisions from her husband Ted Hughes, requiring the publication of the edition The Unabridged Journals of Sylvia Plath in 2000. The journal entries were written in the last twelve years of Plath’s life from 1950 to 1962. As any fan of Plath would come to expect, this collection features personal insights into her life as a poet, alongside an intimate depiction of her struggles with depression. As a contextual companion to some of her beloved publications, these journals offer an essential insight into her life, painting a raw and transparent portrait to all those who are fascinated by Plath. The honesty of her writing provides such an intimate connection that it feels almost intrusive. Plath writes about her marriage to Ted Hughes, literary uncertainty, alongside her struggle with mental health, and navigating the highs and lows of her last twelve years.
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