"Rabbit" And Human Nature

John Updike (1932-) is one of the remarkable prolific American writers. Since the publication of his first volume, The Poorhouse Fair, Updike has published nearly 50 volumes and uncountable critical essays, speeches and reports. Among his extraordinary achievements, Rabbit tetralogy, which was completed in about 30 years, is generally acknowledged as the embodiment of Updike's talent and wisdom in his literary career, and also one of the most well-known multi-volume novels in American literature.Rabbit tetralogy is about the ups and downs of Harry Angstrom's whole life and his complicated family disturbance. Updike gives Harry the nickname "Rabbit", which indicates a certain kind of animal ability with little reason. So, Harry's behavior in his life is the reflection of human nature to a great extent, not controlled by reason. Rabbit seems always to seek something and escape something in his life. Family, society, and life put great pressure on him. His pregnant wife, the jumble room, his mother-in-law's prejudice, and the tedious work, all of these things are a net to Rabbit, which firmly traps him. Out of human nature's desire for freedom and happiness, Rabbit, without rational consideration, runs, leaving his wife alone and wishing to find a free and happy ideal place. His action is the natural reflection of human nature's desire forpursuing happiness and escaping hardness. But Rabbit's wish can not be realized. To run is the only choice that he can choose under the great pressure of society and life. "Run" is his only way to rebel life. In Rabbit Is Rich, Rabbit and Janice's relationship reaches its most harmonious period. It does not mean, however, the distillation of their affection, but Rabbit's pursuit of wealth and fame. Janice, who inherits the property, means fame and wealth to Rabbit. So in order to get rid of the poor life and get Janice's wealth and social position, Rabbit has to reconcile with her. Rabbit's pursuit of profit is determined by human nature that everyone instinctively wants to pursue happiness and escape hardness.Sexuality as an important aspect of human nature plays an important role in human's life. The heavy burden of life makes mediocre Rabbit unbalanced in spirit. Rabbit is lost and his self-respect can not be satisfied. So he turns to seek sexual satisfaction. In Rabbit's time, sexual emancipation movement is under way in America, so Rabbit has many lovers in his life. However, prostitute Ruth comforts Rabbit when he is suffering from emptiness and boredom under the pressure of modern material society, and satisfies his self-respect, while Jill renews his belief in life. But even in America where sex is liberated, to have incest with one's daughter is still an immoral behavior. However, when desire in human nature is satisfied, Rabbit will not rationally think of the morality of his action.Rabbit's life does not only mean desire for freedom, pursuit of profit, and satisfaction of sexuality. Rabbit also has most holypassion in human nature-love, which is possessed by all humans. Rabbit is not a man devoid of passion. Though he conflicts with his son, Nelson, we still can clearly feel his true fatherly love toward Nelson through his words and deeds.So, the natural reflection of human nature on Rabbit expresses more conspicuously his lack of reason, which is just in accordance with his education background and social position. Rabbit's whole life is the epitome of his class in America and a tragedy produced by the American society.