Rebellion Against Modern Civilization

The Bridges of Madison County, written by American contemporary popular writer Robert James Waller, contains a sensitive subject of extra-marital love. Owing to its particular standpoint and sensitive subject of extra-marital love, it has got mixed critical response in the west. Most of these critical papers concentrate on the sensitive subject of extra-marital love and hold the view that Francesca's choice of not leaving her family and refusing to go with Kincaid is the victory of reason over passion. Her choice and Kincaid's respect for her choice reveal their responsible attitude towards marriage, family and society. However, some critics have a negative view, believing that the novel has a bad influence on married people. Perhaps owing to the limitation of space, most articles do not make further analysis of the theme of the novel, while focusing on discussing the relationships between marriage, family, responsibility and morality.This paper, based on Freud's theory of psychoanalysis, argues that within the love story in The Bridges of Madison County, there is a hidden theme, which is the author's rebellion against modem civilization. The rebellion is first shown in the inner struggle and psychological change of Francesca and Kincaid during their love within the four days, then displayed through the characterization of the hero Kincaid and the heroine Francesca and finally through the author's writing techniques. According to Freud, the human mind consists of three parts: id, ego, and superego, which often struggle with each other, especially id and superego. The struggle between id and superego is always irreconcilable. In modem society, modem civilization represses and controls individual's instinctive desire. The struggle between modem civilization and individual's instinctive desire represents the struggle between superego and id.Firstly, this paper analyses the inner struggle and psychological change of Francesca and Kincaid during their love within the four days based on Freud's theory of "the three structures of the mind". The struggle between id and superego is a continuous process throughout their love. The climax of the struggle is the temporary victory of id over superego, that is, their instinctive desire defeats the great restrictions of modem civilization. The ending of the struggle is that superego eventually represses id. This ending reveals the irreconcilable struggle between individual's instinctive desire and modem civilization. Modem civilization imposes great restrictions on individual's instinctive desire, which is what the author rebels against in essence.Secondly, this paper analyses the characterization of the hero Kincaid and the heroine Francesca. The author Robert James Waller is very similar to the hero Kincaid. The purpose for this is to make Kincaid become a spokesman for him, through whom the author can express his intention. Kincaid's behavior in word and in deed reveals that he is rebellious against modem civilization. His rebellious attitude is just what the author wants to express. Francesca is an ordinary farmer's wife who leads a simple and quiet life, but within her heart is full of passion. Her passion has been repressed long by the reality. She used to have her girlhood dream which stands for her instinctive desire. However, the reality is different from her girlhood dream. The discrepancy between the reality and her girlhood dream reveals the irreconcilable struggle between modem civilization and individual's instinctive desire. One typical characteristic of Francesca is that she is especially aware of social influence. This reveals the great influence of modem civilization on the individual. Her final choice is the result of this, which reveals the author's disapproval of and rebellion against modem civilization.Finally, this paper analyses how the author's writing techniques help bring about the hidden theme. In narration the multiple point of view helps reveal his rebellion against modem civilization from different perspectives. Waller also uses some symbolic images in order to reveal Kincaid's irreconcilability with modern civilization. As Kincaid stands for the author, these symbolic images in essence reveal the author's rebellious attitude towards modem civilization. Besides these two techniques, in diction Waller applies scientific terms to literary writing. The purpose of it is to make the reader understand the magnificent influence of modern science and technology and his attitudes towards the negative effects of modem science and technology, and to reveal his rebellion against modern civilization.Therefore, The Bridges of Madison County is not merely a love story. The theme of the novel is to show the author's rebellion against modem civilization as revealed by Kincaid and Francesca. In essence the author's rebellion against modem civilization is the rebellion against the great restrictions that modem civilization imposes on individual's instinctive desire. Though his view of modem civilization is a bit cynical, it has its great realistic significance.