Inheritance And Development

John Hawkes (1925-1998) is an extraordinary American novelist since 1949. He created the world instead of presenting the world. He was criticized for his pioneering works in his early time, which was gradually accepted later. According to critic Albert J. Guerard, he is perhaps the most original American novelist since Faulkner.John Hawkes dosen't enjoy much reputation at home, because his work is difficult, demanding and full of scenes intended to startle and even repel the reader. Gothic elements such as death and violence are prevailed in John Hawkes'novels, but Hawkes'the Blood Oranges differs from other gothic novels. Before Hawkes, all the Gothic novelists digged into the morbid psychology and described the abnormal behavior. While in Hawkes'fiction, he makes the grotesque scene sensational through the wild imagination, and in this way, he tries to inspire reader's sensational experience of terror. His another great contribution to the Gothic novel relies on the fact that he introduces comic elements to the Gothic novel. This innovative combination brings us a sense of safety in danger and laughing with tears. Hawkes add humor to his Gothic fiction, in order to keep readers and his works at a distance, to let them experience the terror but not indulged in it. Therefore, readers can reflect upon the theme and social problems behind the work rationally. It also reflected the author's humanistic concern and responsibility about the current society as well as author's confidence in the future of our society.This thesis attempts to explore the Gothic art of John Hawkes'novel from the perspective of inheritance and development, on the example of the Blood Oranges, to exemplify Hawkes'development in Gothic novel writing. The purpose of writing the thesis from this perspective is to recognize Hawkes'innovation and contribution in Gothic novel writing by putting his work in the whole literary system, then establish his position in literary system. It also means to let more readers access to John Hawkes'novels and to get a better understanding of his novels.