Rabbit’s Identity Crisis And Identity Reconstruction In Rabbit Redux

Rabbit Redux was the second novel among John Updike’s renowned Rabbit’s series.Published in 1972,the novel centers on the daily life of Harry the hero.The wide background concerns the social turmoil of the sixties mainly including the Vietnam War,the countercultural movement,the Civil Rights Movement and the second wave of feminist movement.A panorama of post-war America is pictured from a microcosmic perspective.Updike,presenting the whole from a part,describes the conflicts as well as confusion which lead to Harry’s identity crisis.He also becomes the representative of the most Americans.Relevant studies,however,on Redux which witnesses the greatest changes that the protagonist undergoes are not satisfying.This thesis draws attention to the identity crisis of Harry in the age of turmoil.It begins with a review about the research fruits on the novel and the question that what is identity is answered.Chapter one argues that in a period when woman strives for their rights,Janice’s independence weakens the voice of Rabbit at home,but Rabbit fights back to reclaim the authority.Chapter two further discusses Rabbit’s identity crisis in terms of race and nation.How he relocates himself in the society is involved.Chapter three illustrates the significance of the house for Rabbit’s identity.Though the house is finally burned to ashes,it provides him with a chance to start over.To sum up,in such a turbulent society,Harry as the representative of the majority experiences continuous identity crises.However,he struggles in and learns from them.He could treat the binary forces such as male and female,black and white,upper and low with more ration and objectivity,which helps him relocate himself in the society.Rabbit’s crises also reflect American’s problems.This thesis aims to make up for the lack of studies on Rabbit Redux.It is hoped that it will help readers better understand the protagonist and the novel.