ID
Name
Title
Supervisor

140057
Wakana ICHIHASHI
Studies of Aging Society and Volunteers:
Learning from the National Trust
Prof. Chihiro KATO
Summary

The purpose of this thesis is to examine the importance of older adult volunteers
in an aging society. In Japan, the aging problem is one of the most serious problems. To
solve aging problems, I indicate the importance of older adult volunteers. As the modelof volunteer program, I surveyed the National Trust. The National Trust is one of thebiggest volunteer organizations in the UK. This thesis statement is to learn the volunteer
programs from the National Trust.
First, I made clear the merits of older adult volunteers. Next, I studied about theNational Trust, and I considered whether volunteer programs of National Trust are be
the model of Japanese volunteer programs. Finally, I examined the importance ofvolunteers education.
I investigated the National Trust volunteer program. As a result, I found thatvolunteer programs of the National Trust cannot be used in Japan. However, there weremany programs for volunteers. Due to this program, over 60,000 volunteers support theNational Trust. In Japan, we should learn about volunteer programs from the NationalTrust.
In this thesis, I discovered that education of volunteers is important to increase
elderly volunteers. Thus I researched about the American volunteer education called“Service-Learning”. But I pointed out that Service-Learning system cannot be
introduced in Japan, because there are many differences between the American andJapanese educational systems. Therefore in this paper, I concluded that it is important tofind a new volunteer system, especially a volunteer educational system, in Japan. This
thesis is significant in that it shows new issues from learning volunteer program of theNational Trust.
Keywords: aging society, volunteer, Japan, Amerika, UK171

ID
Name
Title
Supervisor

140264Maki KOBAYASHI
Fantasies in the 1950s:
Country House as a Symbol of English Tradition
Prof. Chihiro KATO
SummaryThe purpose of this thesis is to consider the theme of British fantasies publishedin the 1950s and shed light on their value. The main fantasies in the 1950s were set incountry houses. The thesis explores why country houses appear in fantasies in the1950s.
First, I considered what happened in the 1950s which would influence fantasies.
Second, I explained the hypothesis that country houses appear in fantasies as a symbolof English tradition, and verified this hypothesis by analyzing three fantasies: TheBorrowers, The Children of Green Knowe, Tom's Midnight Garden. Finally, I examined
how country houses can be regarded as a symbol of English tradition through interviewsin England.
I found that fantasy reflects contemporary social condition. In the 1950s, Britishpeople experienced social and cultural change and the collapse of traditional values. I
framed a hypothesis that country houses appear in fantasies because of such conditions,and are depicted as a symbol of English tradition and the past before change. In three
fantasies, social change and the end of English tradition was reflected in the descriptionof country houses. In The Borrowers, the end of traditional lifestyle and order wasdescribed in borrowers and country houses. In The Children of Green Knowe, Green
Knowe was the symbol of the past which healed the loneliness of the protagonist. Andin Tom's Midnight Garden, the message is that the past becomes memory and heals grief.
Finally, I discovered that country houses can be regarded as the symbol of English
tradition from the result of interviews in England.
In conclusion, I verified that country houses appeared in fantasies in the 1950s as
the symbol of English tradition and the past reflecting the social conditions. The
significance of this thesis is to show the new interpretation of fantasies which were
published in the 1950s and shed light on their value.
Keywords: Fantasy, English Tradition, the Past, Country Houses

172

ID
Name
Title
Supervisor

140454Junna TOMONAGAThe Transition of Les Misérables: Why is the Musical loved
more than the novel?
Prof. Chihiro KATO
SummaryThe purpose of this thesis is to clarify the reason why the musical Les Misérablesis loved examining differences between the Hugo’s original work and the musicaladaptation. The musical is the longest-running musical in London. Although the novelis famous all over the world, it is more difficult than the musical. In this thesis the novel
and the musical are compared to make clear differences between them.
First, I stated the history of France in the 19th century and the life of the Les
Misérables’ writer, Victor Hugo, as background. Second, I analyzed the characteristicsof the novel Les Misérables to explore the process of changes from the novel to themusical. Third, I found the reason why the musical is popular all over the world byrevealing these differences.
In the 19th century France, new values leading to the present age, and called
Romanticism, were constructed. Hugo succeeded as a Romanticism writer, politicianand social activist. He wrote Les Misérables after he became conscious of his
Republican leanings. Thus the novel by Hugo included themes not only of poverty but
also Hugo’s thoughts about social progress, religion and republicanism. While the novel
included several themes, the musical is the story of the people who were oppressed bypoverty. The music contributed to emphasize the feelings of characters.
In this paper I observed why the musical Les Misérables is popular among theworld from the process of transition from novel to musical. The novel is complicated
due to the parts where Hugo included his own thoughts. On the other hand, the musicalis simpler, deleting Hugo’s complex thoughts and focusing only on the theme of poverty
which is the common issue in the world. The significance of this thesis is to clarify theimportance of the musical in popular culture.
Keywords: Les Misérables, differences, Republicanism, poverty

173

ID
NameTitle
Supervisor

140478
Sakura NAKAMURA
Symbol of Oliver Twist in British Society:
The Class Consciousness from a Life of Dickens and His Work
Prof. Chihiro KATO
Summary

The purpose of this thesis is to examine the view of social class consciousness in
Oliver Twist written by Charles Dickens. Oliver Twist is one of the most famous novels
by Dickens. The subject of this work was the New Poor Law in 1834. Dickens pointed
out the misery of life in workhouses and inhumane attitude of government officials. A
characteristic of his work was to satirize British social problems with a viewpoint ofthe weak. However, I doubted whether Dickens wrote Oliver Twist with a viewpoint ofthe weak. This thesis explores Dickens’s viewpoint in Oliver Twist.
First, I explored Dickens’s life and how he gained a viewpoint of the weak.
Second, I examined the background of Dickens’s writing of the novel and considered
how satires and an ending gave a hope to the lower class. Finally, I pointed out defectsin Oliver Twist, and considered the reason of the defects based on Victorian lives. I alsoconcluded whether Dickens wrote with a viewpoint of the lower class or middle class.
I discovered Dickens suffered a life of the lower class after falling from themiddle class. Then he gained the lower viewpoint and strong attachment to the life of
the middle class. In the novel, he gave a hope and sense of security to the lower class.
However, the novel had many defects which meant supporting the middle class.
Therefore, Dickens had a viewpoint of the middle class in writing Oliver Twist.
After all these considerations, I discovered Oliver Twist was written supporting
the middle class rather than giving hope for the lower class. Thus, I conclude Dickens
wrote with a viewpoint of the middle class in Oliver Twist. This thesis is significant inthat it shows new interpretation about Dickens’s viewpoint.
Keywords: Oliver Twist, Charles Dickens, viewpoint

174

ID
Name
Title
Supervisor

140492
Mao NISHIZAKO
Jane Austen’s Landscape View:
From the Viewpoint of PicturesqueProf. Chihiro KATO
Summary

The purpose of this thesis is to explore Jane Austen’s landscape view. There aremany landscape depictions and conversations about English landscape in her works. Itshows her great interest in landscape. Many researchers have indicated her interest,
however, interpretations of her position on Picturesque are divided. This thesis reveals
Austen’s position on picturesque, and examines the full picture of her landscape view.
First, I introduced two powerful interpretations about Austen’s position on
picturesque, and presented a hypothesis that she was consistently negative about
picturesque from the beginning of her writing. Second, I analyzed her works andverified my hypothesis. Third, I considered what her ideal landscape was.
Austen often used words and expressions connected with picturesque in herworks, however, it always implied some connotations. This indicated her negative
attitude towards picturesque. I considered it was due to the gap between picturesquelandscape and natural landscape of England. The former was excessively artificial.
Many people in her time preferred this kind of varied landscape, but she realized that it
was different from natural landscape of England. Her ideal landscape was the barelandscape such as Steventon and Chawton where she used to live.
After all these considerations, I revealed that Austen was negative about
picturesque and satirized it in her works. And I concluded she attempted to present thecrude country landscape of England as English landscape worth praising.
Keywords: Jane Austen, picturesque, landscape, England175