On The Parodic Strategy In Updike's Scarlet Letteer Trilogy

This thesis is a tentative study of the parody of Updike's Scarlet Letter trilogy related to Hawthorne's canon. The task of the thesis is to find out parodic strategy existing in the three hypertexts that are related to the hypotext and devices of the Updikian parodic narration and their features. Under the guidance of the theory of parody, parodic situations between Updike's Scarlet Letter trilogy and Hawthorne's classic are investigated in three aspects:the themes, the characters and the narrative perspective.Based on close examination of the found situations of parody, the author of the present thesis observes that Updikian parodic narration features a mixed attitude of subversion towards his predecessor. In the subversion lies his reinterpretation of the topics of adultery and religion. The Updike's characters are in search of physical rebirth. Though it is ambiguous how successful they finally are, or even whether they can return to their former lives, it is reasonably safe to say that they have become transfigured in the process. Surveying the perspective of narration in Updike's Scarlet Letter trilogy, the author of the present thesis has investigated that Updike has shifted his narrative perspective to deconstruct Hawthorne's omniscience, bestowing the speaking authority on his three protagonists. Moreover, Updike has accommodated the changed social consciousness mirrored in Updike's times.By studying Updike's parodic works, the readers can learn not only the art of his parodic narration, but also the cultural connotations in different times between the two writers.