A Study Of Ethical Conflicts In A Rose For Emily From The Perspective Of Ethical Literary Criticism

Based on the theoretical foundation of ethical literary criticism,the thesis explores the ethical conflicts in A Rose for Emily,one of the famous short stories of William Faulkner.This Gothic story wins widespread concern both at home and abroad for its unique narrative structure and the intriguing plots.There are increasingly mounting researches on this story,which focus on the characters,writing techniques,feminism and psychology,but few studies on ethics can be read.Ethical literary criticism,borrowing the lessons of western ethical criticism and Chinese moral criticism,is a critical method to read,analyze and evaluate literature in the view of ethics.The thesis is a qualitative analysis on the basis of close reading,applying the thoughts of Professor Nie about ethical environment,ethical identity and ethical choice,to analyze Emily?s ethical conflicts and predicaments in the pursuit of marriage and unravel the causes of her miserable life.Then it also attempts to reveal Faulkner?s writing motive and his ethical expectation.Through the whole analysis,it can be found that the special ethical environment and identity of Emily have foreshadowed her tragedy.Firstly,Emily lives in a typically patriarchal family that influenced by the ethical code of male dominance,so Emily?s natural instinct for a husband and a family is oppressed by her father all the time.Meanwhile,the American historical transition occupies Emily?s growth,so both the expansion of modern capitalist civilization of the North and the decline of the traditional cultures and ethical values in the Old South promote Emily to make the rebellious ethical choice.Secondly,Emily is the daughter of the Grierson and the incarnation of southern tradition,but she falls in love with a humble Yankee,hence Emily is shackled by her ethical identity that aggravates the conflict between her human instinct and southern moral standards.In the story,Faulkner makes his voice heard for the oppressed women.He conveys his sympathy to those people who have the similar sufferings,and denounces the patriarchy and the traditional ethics on marriage with less care and respect for humanity.