A Neo-Realistic Reading Of The Book Of Lights

This M. A. thesis aims to render a neo-realistic reading of Jewish American writer Chaim Potok's fifth novel The Book of Lights. Although since the 1960s postmodernism has been all the vogue on literary stage, throughout the postwar period, many novelists have continued to use realistic mode of writing. However, their (neo-)realistic works, especially those that emerged after 1980s manifest their own distinctive features. While our present time witnesses a gradual decline of postmodernism, the term "neo-realism" begins to gain wide currency.This thesis consists of an introduction, four chapters and a conclusion. The Introduction focuses on Chaim Potok's literary career, the characteristics of his works and his fifth novel The Book of Lights. It also reveals the undeniable fact that although Potok's novels receive wide popularity, criticism of Potok does not give him enough credit.The first chapter of this thesis demonstrates that what we call "neo-realism" is not a simple return to traditional realism. For one thing, the period after the world war, which is characterized by its sense of historical disaster and nuclear threat, by the changed global political situation and technological transformation, provides the writer with a wide range of possible subjects and themes, which are distinct from those of traditional realists. For another, under the influence of modernism and postmodernism, (neo-)realist writers tend to approach the contemporary society with more effective artistic means fully developed by modernists and postmodernists. Based on many critics' opinions as well as my own understanding, I believe that a neo-realistic novel should be one that depicts a contemporary world firmly rooted in a particular place and culture, situates its moral dramas in the Zeitgeist and reveals character's true-to-life emotions and reactions within their particular situations; and it also should be one that while written within a realistic convention, also takes advantage of modernist and/or postmodernist artistic means to achieve their own aesthetic effect.The second chapter examines the neo-realistic themes of the novel The Book of Lights. Setting the novel in the Second World War and the Korean War, the author gives a realistic representation of a world of violence and absurdity. Moreover, as a Jewish writer, Potok focuses on the moral equivocation perceived by Jewish people.The third chapter renders a detailed analysis of the characterization of The Book of Lights. Locating his characters in extreme situations and offering detailed depiction of their psychic crisis and struggle for moral assessment, Potok creates compelling neo-realistic characters.The fourth chapter explores the neo-realistic artistic features of the novel. The protagonist's futile quest for a moral absolute reflects postmodernist motif of circularity and it generates a kind of neo-realistic aesthetic experience. Beside, through the reconstruction of Jewish mysticism, which reminds us of the mythological reconstruction frequently employed by modernists, Potok succeeds in asserting Jewish values, reinvigorating Jewish people and rebuilding Judaism.The concluding part of this thesis gives a brief review of the rise of neo-realism. It points out that although it is still hard to give a precise definition of neo-realism, the attempt to discuss certain neo-realistic features is still meaningful, since it could deepen our understanding of those great and gratifying neo-realistic works and allows us to give them their deserved credit. The discussion and analysis in this M. A. thesis demonstrate such an attempt. As will be clear from the thesis, based on a general understanding of neo-realism, a detailed analysis of the theme, character and the artistic features of Potok's fifth novel The Book of Lights is meant to enhance our appreciation of the work and could also in turn contributes to a better understanding of neo-realism.