A Study On Indeterminacy In John Hawkes' Second Skin

With his outstanding originality in the artistic skills and creative thoughts, John Hawkes has established his statue in the history of the post-World War II American literature as one of the most distinguished experimental novelist.Second Skin is probably the most frequently read and frequently taught of Hawkes'novels. It has been the subject of many articles, the source of numerous arguments, and possibly it is his most complimented work. Critics have analyzed and interpreted the novel from different perspectives. After reading the various critical reviews mentioned in previous part,it is not difficult to find that critics have neglected indeterminacy this one major postmodern aesthetic characteristic that is embodied in this novel. Based on the theories of postmodernism, especially on Ihab Hassan's theory of postmodernist literature, this thesis is intended to reveal the postmodern feature indeterminacy in the novel from four aspects of character, plot, symbolic codes and themes.With the possibilities of first-person narration, Hawkes makes Skipper the uncertain character image (both a fool and a hero). Hawkes also exerts every effort to create an indeterminate world floating in the distorted time, space and dreamlike scenes. All the indeterminate factors demand the readers'participation, with which the exploration for meaning can be really completed. John Hawkes endows his symbols with the main feature—indeterminacy of postmodernism. Among the profuse symbols penetrating in the whole novel, the wind and the title of the novel second skin are the typically representatives.With the indeterminate factors in the novel, the themes of the novel of course are of various interpretations then producing indeterminacy in the themes. This paper will discuss themes of the novel from two perspectives. One is social chaos and instability, the other is about durability and survivorship.Through the analysis of Second Skin from the perspective indeterminacy will result not only in our awareness of his postmodern features but also in our recognition that his important influences on postmodern American literature.