The Self-Construal Of Charles Lumley In Hurry On Down

Hurry on Down, John Wain’s first and representative novel, was published in1953, which made him famous. It is traditionally regarded as the first novel of "The Angry Young Men", which attracts more attention in English literature. This novel tells a life about a graduate, Charles Lumley. He despises the current system and hypocritical people. He tries to get rid of the restraints of the society and construct his new self. Therefore, he disappoints his middle-class family and takes some jobs of lower class, such as window-cleaner, chauffeur, hospital orderly, chucker-out in a bar and a gag writer. During this period, he experiences two relationships with women. The most important one is the love with the upper-class woman Veronica, which is the important turning point in his self-construal. The second one is the love with a working-class girl. The same boring life of working-class makes him leave Rosa. The end of the story is dramatic and open. In the end, it seems that Charles finds the "neutrality" in his process of self-construal. The young people in modern China also confront with the same confusion as Charles when they graduate from universities. Therefore, this thesis tries to analyze the process and result of the protagonist’s self-construal and explores the proper self-construal for young people to fit the society.This thesis consists of five parts:In chapter one, the author and the creation background of the work are briefly introduced. This part also introduces the main content of the novel and current research situation as well as the research meaning of this thesis.In chapter two, the basic theory of this thesis is introduced-the theory of self-construal. This part introduces the development, classification and interaction of this theory. Independent and interdependent self-construal coexists in one person’s self-construal. Therefore, this thesis analyzes the self-construal of the protagonist from these two aspects.In chapter three, the independent self-construal of the protagonist is analyzed in details. Through the analysis of the protagonist’s different thoughts, words and behaviors, his resolution to break with the society and construct new self will be revealed.In chapter four, the interdependent self-construal of the protagonist is analyzed. According to the theory of self-construal, interdependent self-construal influences individual self-construal as well, especially in the protagonist. When the protagonist thinks he can live a peaceful life by himself, some acquaintance of pastime always appears to disturb him. The love for the upper-class girl shakes his resolution to break with the society, In this period, the interdependent self-construal plays a dominant role in his self-construal.Chapter five summarizes the main content and the research meaning:in the process of self-construal, only with the proper combination of independent and interdependent self-construal, can the "neutrality" be found and can the success be achieved.