On The Americanness In Jeffrey Eugenides’ Middlesex

Greek-American writer Jeffrey Eugenides’ novel Middlesex won the 2003 Pulitzer Prize for Literature upon its publication.This autobiographical novel,starting from Carl’s adult perspective,focuses on Carl’s youth and three generations of identity searches;At the same time,the broad perspective covers the rise and fall of his family in the past 100 years and the history of changes in American society.The paper discusses its Americanness in the “American Dream” and American in Middlesex.The main body of the paper is divided into the following three parts.The first part,on the basis of combing Americanness in the American literary tradition,summarizes the connotation and characteristics of Americanness,and then discusses the characteristics of Eugenides’ American writing.First of all,the American writing in the American literary tradition,that is,the three levels of national identity,independence and freedom,and cultural inclusiveness,are sorted out,focusing on the literary models of different periods showing different American connotations.Secondly,it summarizes the social conditions formed by Americanness and the flow development of connotations,highlighting the impact of social historical changes on Americanness changes.Then,the analysis of Americanness outpouring in the works of writer Eugenides is mainly combined with the multi-theme and multi-narrative modes in works such as Virgin Suicide,Middlesex,and The Marriage Plot.The writer’s concern for gender,cross-cultural vision,and diverse creative practices are typical of contemporary writers’ American writing.The second part will focus on exploring the role of the American Dream as a link for immigrants and immigrant cultures.The “American Dream” is an important embodiment of Americanness,and the paper will explore the struggle and urban changes of the Stephenides’ family with the help of spatial imagery such as Detroit’s urban landmarks,Greek restaurants,and rich villas,reflecting the development of the“American Dream”.On the one hand,the “American Dream” attracts immigrants and strengthens Americans’ confidence in the future of a prosperous society and nation;On the other hand,the transformation of American cultural policy from “Melting Pot”forging to pluralistic integration has strengthened the adhesion and naturalization of the“American Dream” to Americans,demonstrated American values and national ideals,and condensed the American spirit.The third part focuses on the issue of identity,exploring the dual identity confusion of gender and ethnicity encountered by immigrants in the novel.Becoming an American is the pursuit of immigrants,and it is also a prominent feature of Americanness in immigrants.The paper will interpret the “centered” state of gender power,the “aphasia”problem of ethnic integration,and the search to escape this state,and highlight the connotation of Americanness through the question of identity.Immigrants’ imagination of the United States shows diversity and fluidity,and their complex ethnic identities bring opportunities and challenges to the United States,as well as the meaning and crisis of Americans’ daily lives.