Comment on the significance of autobiography in Brideshead Revisited
As a bildungsroman, it is impossible to overlook the significance of autobiography of both narrator and author in Brideshead Revisited. In terms of narrator, the fact that the novel is a compilation of “the sacred and profane memories of Captain Charles Ryder” demonstrates that the novel is autobiographical, albeit of a fictional character. Written in the first person and describing a series of events that are examined retrospectively over a long period implies that the novel makes up Charles’ autobiography. Indeed, the fact that the stimulus of his remembrance is specifically his return to Brideshead as a Captain during the Second World War makes this all the more apparent, as the prologue and subtitle both initially define the novel as being an assemblage of his memories. In terms of author, there has always been speculation as to whether Evelyn Waugh had his aristocratic friends living at Madresfield court in mind when creating the Flyte family and the process of conversion to Catholicism was one of clear importance to Waugh, he himself having converted in 1933. Thus this becomes an appealing, although secondary, point of interest particularly given that the ideals adopted by Charles frequently appear to be those shared by Waugh himself.
It appears initially prudent, therefore, to examine the significance of Charles’ autobiographical memories, given his status as the protagonist of the novel. During the extract, Charles states, “it is thus that I like to remember Sebastian, as he was that summer, when we wandered alone together through that enchanted palace”. The use of the word “remember” is significant, as this no only reminds the reader that Charles is looking back on events, but also highlights the fact that there may be a level of subjectivity in his remembrances and that the reader should be aware of this. Indeed, this is emphasised by the inclusion of “how I like to remember”, as...