Middle Class Americans In Social Turbulence In 1960s And 1970s: Viewed From John Vpdike's Maples Stories

Updike is a well-known American contemporary writer. He is a prolific writer. His works are of high quality. He is good at writing marital life. His novels like "Rabbit" tetralogy were introduced and translated into China quite early, and a lot of reviews on these novels were published afterwards. It opens a window for Chinese readers to see American culture and society. Updike not only writes good novels, but also a lot of fine short stories. He was awarded very often for his short stories. Updike had admitted that his short stories were better than his novels. However, his short stories were not set store by the literary world. In western countries, special studies of Updike's short stories are not many. In China, very few people have studied his short stories and nobody has approached his Maples stories as a whole, which reflects the life of middle class Americans. It is an abnormal phenomenon in Updike's studies. Therefore, this thesis intends to try to approach Updike's short stories, and through the study of Updike's Maples stories to explore how the historical events and trends of thoughts influence middle class Americans in 1960s and 1970s.Maples stories are a series of stories that depict marital life. Through the depiction of Maples's family conflicts and marital crisis, Updike indicated American social disintegration and culture demoralization in 1960s and 1970s. For example, during that period of time, one gets his purpose by any kind of means. One may think that even president has played tricks in profit getting. Why not others? The rise of individualism drives people to pleasure and freedom seeking without concerning for other's feelings. The fulsome advocating of feminism sharpens the conflicts between couples. No-Fault Divorce Statute loosens the law confinement to a marriage so that divorce becomes a very easy thing. Updike recorded all these faithfully. Through Maples stories, Updike tells the fact that in 1960s and 1970s, American family is not as stable as before and full of crisis. Maples are the representatives of the whole middle class Americans. Through the study of Maples stories, one can see the basic living and thinking conditions of the whole middle class Americans in 1960s and 1970s, which is helpful to perceive the history of that time.In addition, due to the fact that Updike's writing has a strong tendency of autobiography. Extramarital love affair and divorce are not only the life of Maples's but also Updike himself's. Therefore, the study of Maples stories is one of the best references to study Updike. In this point, the study of Maples stories is significant.The thesis consists of three parts.The first part introduces John Updike as a short story writer and introduces his short stories, and emphasizes the significance of perceiving Updike's Maples stories.The second part consists of five sections, which discuss how the Civil Rights Movement, Nixon's trick, No-Fault Divorce Statute, feminism and individualism influence middle class American people respectively.The third part draws a conclusion, which sums up the above analysis and discussion, and restates the influence of historical events and the trends of thoughts on middle class Americans.