Where Is The Homeland?

Frank O'Connor (1903-1966) is a famous Irish short story writer in the twentieth century. Most of his works are set in the independent Irish County Cork to catch the instantaneous episodes of Irish people in the middle and lower classes and depict the delicate psychological activity of common people. These stories are abundant in contents and themes and win great popularity among readers for the vivid description of characters. However, due to several reasons, O'Connor has not gained favor in the eyes of overseas critics for a long time. We could find few experts or specialists who specialize in the study and research on O'Connor's short story in China. The thesis has been written to remedy the regrettable imperfection in the domestic research on Irish literature.Stories about children are an indispensable part of O'Connor's short stories. O'Connor is a master of psychological realistic fiction and he is good at portraying vivid children with novel plots and unique narrative methods to reveal the deep unconscious mind of human beings in childhood. Based on Freudian theory, the thesis will analyze"Oedipus complex"and"Daydream"of children represented by Larry Delaney in order to discuss their domestic and social roots. In the first few years of the twentieth century, there still exist many domestic hidden troubles and social maladies in the newly-independent Ireland. Special domestic structure and relation combine children with mother together closely, so Oedipus complex not only accompanies O'Connor through his life but also influences a generation or even several generations of Irish people. These juvenile stories are rightly reflective of the universal psychological phenomenon in Ireland at that time. Meanwhile, O'Connor makes use of Larry's dreams and fantasies to express his concern for the fate of Ireland and the psychological growth of children and his satire on the conservative educational system and religion of his country. In a word, O'Connor shows the longings for a happy homeland in his works. The homeland consists of three meanings: an integral, love-filled, warm home and a sound, wholesome psychology and morality and a free, progressive, harmonious Irish society.