On The Self-exploration In Ian McEwan’s The Nutshell

Ian McEwan is one of the most influential writers in contemporary British literature.From his first novel The First Love,The Last Ritual,McEwan has been focusing on the modern individual.The novel Nutshell,written in the later period of his transformation,not only describes the individual dilemma,but also actively explores the way to get out of the dilemma and construct the self.This paper will take the life experiences of the characters in Ian McEwan’s Nutshell as the clue,analyze the characters’ self-dilemma and self-exploration,and explore the humanistic concern behind the novel.Apart from the introduction and conclusion,this paper is mainly divided into four chapters,which are as follows:The first chapter discusses the creative origin of self-question.First,it discusses the influence of McEwan’s personal life experience on his creation.McEwan’s lively nature was repressed by his roving,militarised childhood,and he had to read and daydream to ease his pain;The British society has always paid attention to family background,and his mother paid too much attention to her working class status.The behavior of changing her accent to climb into the upper class affected McEwan from the side,which deepened his concern and thinking about his own living condition.Secondly,it explores the influence of literary tradition on McEwan.Due to his own growing up experience,McEwan has never established a close emotional connection with elite literature,and he also feels at a loss in literature reflecting other social classes.Modern writers’ concern and writing about their own problems provide him with new experience in his writing.The second chapter discusses the self-dilemma of the characters in the novel from three aspects.Because of the lack of spiritual support,the loss of the pursuit of truth,goodness and beauty,people become objects,lose their own subjectivity;Living in a disharmonious group relationship,individuals are marginalized and become loners,so they lose their sense of belonging;Innocents who are implicated in the SINS of others,are not criminals but like criminals,and become melancholy.The third chapter discusses the self-salvation path of the characters.McEwan has made a comprehensive observation and consideration of human existence.He not only reveals the self-dilemma that the individual is facing,but also actively explores the way to get out of the dilemma and construct the self.The author hopes that the return of love can bring comfort to the wandering and struggling characters,the return of justice can create an orderly and harmonious interpersonal relationship,and the optimism can lead the characters to get out of the dilemma and gain new self-meaning.The fourth chapter studies the value meaning of exploring self.By writing about characters’ self-discovery,McEwan explores how to properly seek self-development in a pluralistic society.On the one hand,the complex human nature determines that people should empathize with others and moderately seek their own values in the process of pursuing themselves.On the other hand,a free society gives people infinite possibilities and causes social disorder,which requires individuals to assume corresponding responsibilities in the process of seeking personal meaning in order to obtain personal happiness.