The Growth Between Loneliness And Contradiction

Thomas Clayton Wolfe,the prominent novelist in American literature history, gained splendid success in literature during his brief life, is thought to be a rare genius. His recognized novel Look Homeward, Angel is a typical bildungsroman, and also a literary masterpiece in modern American literature history.Based on the contents, this paper tries to analyze the theme, structure and images of the novel, in the aspects of literature history and imagery; also it discusses the literary tensions. Due to the existing status comparison between the main character and human race, the author concludes the real status of people in that period, and explores the inner philosophy meanings and cultural implications of this novel.Based on closely reading of the text, and also the theory of bildungsroman, this article defines the special value of Look Homeward, Angel by comparing with other bildungsroman in American literature history. Firstly, by analyzing the configuration and content to uncover the theme-----loneliness, find out the cause of the formation of loneliness. Then I will explore the central meaning of the text, by which opposing the images in the process of growing, such as the town, the train, and the figure of angel, etc. The studying of the Wolfe Type contradiction reveals the growth connotation of the Look Homeward, Angel. The situation of modern American literature results in the lack of tradition, which triggers the fierce will to search the ascription of atman and its spirit. The dialectic growth accompanied by disillusion and hope, leads to an American poetic imagination as the end.