A Study Of Seize The Day In The Perspective Of Ethical Literary Criticism

Saul Bellow (1915—2005) is widely recognized as one of America's preeminent novelists. He won the National Book Awards three times and the Pulitzer Prize once. In 1976, he received the Nobel Prize "for the human understanding and subtle analysis of contemporary culture that are combined in his work." His novels focus on the contradiction between human beings and society, and the spiritual predicament of intellectuals in highly developed era. Seize the Day, one of his prominent novellas, was singled out by the members of Royal Swedish Academy "as one of the classic works of our time". It tells the story of Wilhelm's life and thoughts through a painful but significant day. This thesis attempts to explore the ethical and moral questions implied in the novella based on the theory of ethical literary criticism, and discuss the characters' living conditions and spiritual state in American society from three aspects: the relationship between an individual and society, the relationship between an individual and others, the relationship between an individual and himself, so as to get a better understanding of Saul Bellow's humanistic ideas.This thesis falls into five parts.The introductory part offers a brief account of Saul Bellow and his works, makes a plot summary of Seize the Day, explains the theory of ethical literary criticism and provides a literature review. In the end, it points out that the thesis is original in analyzing Seize the Day from the perspective of ethical literary criticism.Chapter One makes a study of the relationship between an individual and society and analyzes main characters' spiritual pressure in this material society, in which money is superior to anything else, and their sufferings owing to the conflict between an individual and society. After the Second World War, the traditional moral system is greatly destroyed and democracy becomes an illusion in America. In this novella, social justice cannot be protected and the contradiction between an individual and society is strengthened. Besides, the society is congested with unrestricted material desire and money has become the only standard of success. Motivated by money, people in the novella do not show any regard for the law and have lost their sense of family and friendship.Chapter Two discusses the relationship between an individual and others. Firstly, the relationship between parents and children is interpreted, with an emphasis on the relationship between father and son. In the novella, there are many differences between Wilhelm and his father Adler, such as characters, ways of doing things and values. The conflict between them is inevitable. Regardless the coldness and indifference of Dr. Adler, Wilhelm still longs for living harmoniously with him. Next, there is no true love and equality between the husband and the wife. Dr. Adler takes his wife as a tool to meet certain needs. As for Wilhelm, his wife Margaret demands more money and tortures him without any care for him. Finally, there is no intimate relationship among people. They only look after their own material interest and little communication is carried out. There is no love and understanding among them.Chapter Three explores the relationship between an individual and himself, which is the most intrinsic and complicated one. Men pursue the relationship constantly and make every effort to learn about themselves. In the novella, Wilhelm often reflects himself and tries his best to pursue self-value and love. Besides, as the descendant of Jews, he keeps on dangling between Jewish traditional culture and American mainstream culture and cannot find his real cultural identity.The conclusion makes a summary of the ethical and moral questions in this novella from three aspects and points out that ethical literary criticism provides a different way to understand Bellow's humanistic ideas.