Ethical Care In David Lodge’s Fictions

David Lodge, born in London in 1935, has combined the writing of fiction with a keen interest in its theory, and, in addition to his sixteen novels, has written fifteen books of literary criticism and numerous articles for academic journals. His reputation proves that he has achieved widespread recognition both as a creative writer and literary critic. Since the 1980s, David Lodge scholarship has just been unfolding both at home and abroad. Most previous studies of Lodge’s works have focused on his modes of writing——modernism, postmodernism and antimodernism, but seldom touched upon the themes of his works, such as ethics. This thesis, using ethical literary criticism, undertakes a critical survey of the moral phenomenon in his works to show his ethical care.The thesis is composed of three chapters, an introduction and a conclusion.The introduction provides a brief account of Lodge’s life and writing of fiction, a critical survey of David Lodge scholarship both at home and abroad, a summary of ethical literary criticism and the method of study and innovative points in this thesis.Chapter One deals with the moral crisis, of which the sources are the society and oneself, in Lodge’s works.Chapter Two discuses the intergrated inter-personal relationship in Lodge’s works. After a generate sketch of sex, love, marriage and family in the latter half of the 20th century in England, this thesis seeks to illustrate Lodge’s attempt of presenting an ideal life in accordance with moral principles.Chapter Three, with Freudian analytical psychology and Kierkegaardian existentialism, covers one’s integrated relationship with oneself in Therapy to demonstrate Lodge’s ethic idea of self sublimation.The conclusion briefly sums up Lodge’s ethical care in his works, namely, the pursuit of "goodness" in the integrated inter-personal relationship and "holiness" in one’s integrated relationship with oneself, and seeks to explore its sources——the society in which he lives, his life experiences and the spirit of an intellectual. In his literary creation, David Lodge, deliberating over the ethical dilemma in life and realities, finds a way out for people in the postindustrial society.