The Postmodern Chaos Of The Post-industrial Society In JR

As the most important bridge between the previous and the following generations of postmodernists, William Gaddis is the least read author. Being in the transitional period of capitalism, William Gaddis vividly portrays the converting American society, degenerated moral and indifferent humanity with his own experience, profound knowledge and puzzling writing skills, which reveals the chaos of the post-industrial society.The post-industrial period is also called late capitalism. Like the monopolistic capitalism gives birth to modernism, postmodernism is the production of the late capitalistic period. Although postmodernism is still in debate, it cannot be denied that postmodern literature has already occupied the significant position of American contemporary literature and becomes a literary power that cannot be neglected. In literary criticism, the reflections of postmodernism lie in collage and irony, etc. William Gaddis'JR is considered a classical work of this period.Through the puzzling text, chaotic economic and educational system, depraved humanity and the retrogressive moral, this paper analyzes the postmodern characteristics of JR, and furthermore, reveals the chaotic nature of American society. JR becomes the metamorphic chaotic epic that reflects the postwar American society. Critic Fredric Karl thinks that JR is the tour guide for the readers to understand America form the 50s to 80s.