Hopeless Spiritual Pursuit

Thomas Wolfe is one of the greatest American writers in the 20th century. His opulent language and unique literary style are characteristics of his four autobiographical novels, which have elevated him to legendary status.Look Homeward, Angel is Wolfe's first work, also the best of his. In this novel, there are a number of themes, among which unnatural love, loneliness and suffering are major ones. These themes reflect the lonely, painful and lost state of the young generation in the South of America. Throughout the novel, unnatural love, loneliness, and suffering are pervasive. They also inevitably influence each individual's life and attitude toward self and the world. All characters in the novel feel lonely, helpless and aimless. Although they are fighting for something that they believe may bring them a world of freedom and spirit, they all feel disappointed and find no angel at all. They are losers in the end.The present thesis consists of five parts. In chapter one, unnatural Love is explained by using Freudian theory about Oedipus Complex and Jung's theory about Electra Complex, the unnatural love between Helen and father (and other men ) and love between Eugene and his mother (and his lovers) are analyzed.In chapter two, the second theme-loneliness, which is pervasive in the novel, is discussed. From Oliver Gant, Eliza to Gant children: Luke, Ben, Helen, Eugene, all family members feel lonely. Why? In this part, Kierkegaard's philosophical theories are applied to explain this.In chapter three, Schopenhauer's theory about will and suffering is applied to explain the causes of suffering and loneliness of all characters in LHA.By analyzing the three themes of LHA and their relationship, this study concludes with almost all Gant family's failure in seeking for their world of spirit, revealing the deep cause of most American's failure in pursuing the world of spirit during the period before and after the first World War and the influence of the irrational thinking on the writing of modernist writers in America.The present study opens a new approach to analyze themes of Look Homeward, Angel from the perspective of irrational thinking, i.e. philosophical and psychoanalytical perspective and in some small way can help to reengage readers in the appreciation of the fiction of Thomas Wolfe.