Interpretation Of The Psychoanalytic Theory Of The Rabbit Tetralogy

John Updike, one of the most influential writers in contemporary American Literature. With his famous Rabbit Tetralogy, he became the most gifted and serious writer among his contemporaries. Rabbit Tetralogy depicts the life experiences of Harry, with Rabbit as his nick name, stretching from 26 to 55 years of age, to reveal the conditions of existence of ordinary Americans and describe the broad social background and features of the time. Applying the approach of Freud's Psychoanalysis, the thesis explicates Rabbit Tetralogy, in order to deepen the readers'understanding of the text. By way of adopting Freudian theories of the unconscious, the thesis probes into the character's psychology, explains the character's acts and analyzes the character's personality. The conclusion is reached based on the analysis: the unconsciousness and narcissism comprise the intrinsic causes of the character's acts, whereas external surroundings work as the extrinsic cause.