Thinking About The Ostentatious World

John Updike(1932—2009), one of the most Well-known realistic masters inliterature in Contemporary American Literature. His Rabbit series is also the highlyacclaimed in literary. After emergency of Rabbit, Run, Updike publish Rabbit Redux,Rabbit is Rich and Rabbit at Rest one after another every ten yeas. And these make upnoted Rabbit Series . Updike used a style of writing like Chinese outline drawing todepict the American socia l and culture from 1950s'to 1980s'and provided us aThumbna ils to observe Contemporary America n. He paid close attention on Americanpeoples'living situation: hesitating between painful and desperateness frequently.They desire to find the mea ning of life and the value of survival. But at last theycannot find anything to save. A lot of critics show solicitude for ideology and artisticquality Rabbit series , in fact, this novel has lots of socia l mea nings, and its socia lsignifica nces are better than its artistic value. In this paper I try to analyze time changeand socia l problems from hero's growing.First, collision between chasing"self"and Socia l realityUpdike revea led a lot of socia l problems in Rabbit series . Such as the ethnicconflicts, confusion of mora l concepts, marria ge fissile , individ ualism overflow andblack sports. Updike pay close attention to collision between chasing"self"andSocia l reality most. American people attach importance to freedom .But in the realworld the contradiction between freedom and socia l order can not make peace .Thiscontradiction became more and more serious after World War II. The young peoplewho grow up following World War II became lonely; hesitate when they came to thesociety with"American Dream".Second, belief crisis and religion decadency emerge in America n.In 1960s secular tendency of religion became a tempestuous current. Thephenomenons of belief crisis and religion decadency emerge in America n. At this time,religion became not only a road to God but also a tool that satisfy requirement. Updikedepicted the process of religion decadency. In Rabbit, Run , church cannot kick outdevil of appetite. Priest cannot change Harry's mind too. In Rabbit Redux, Harry givesup going to church for Worship, instead of doing it on the bus when he is free. InRabbit is Rich, church lost its shine. Youth like Nelson Challenge the authority ofChristia n, and contemn it's concept of life and death and so on. In Rabbit at Rest, God has gone, only le ft selfness. Religion decadency emerges in American society.Third, discussion about Feminine Issue.Updike showed solicitude for Feminine Issue. He relent women's unfortunatedestiny. He recognized women's excellent character, even give positive appraisal to thestreet girl. What's more Updike give women confidence from description of Janice andRuth's growing. And find a road to new life.In Rabbit series Updike took Harry's life as an Observation point. And Updikeused it to observe American society. The new Observation point and the thoroughanalysis of Rabbit series makes it deserve to be called in"Dating History"of Americansociety.