A New Historicist Reading Of It Can’t Happen Here

Sinclair Lewis is the first American writer who was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in1930. From that time, American literature became an independent existence and also an important part of world literature. Then American literature quickly developed towards real maturity and prosperity. Lewis’s works make a recording of different aspects of American social life. It Can t Happen Here reveals the circumstances of United States after the Great Depression of1929. Lewis applies his unique news-style narration to produce a representation of American reality of that period of time. This thesis will concentrate on the following two aspects:literary texts are created in a particular historical period under particular social background; history is recorded by texts and the literary texts have an effect on social and historical background.New Historicists believe there is a close relationship between culture and history. They also point out that literary texts and history are not two isolated concepts. Texts and history are influenced and interacted by each other. For the relationship between literary texts and historical context, Louis A. Montrose put forward two concepts "historicity of text" and "textuality of history"."Historicity of text" refers that both literary texts and social texts, which have particular social historicity, are created by particular history, culture, politics and social class. Therefore, those texts have context added by society. Any interpreting process of texts isn’t purely objective, which inevitably has its social historicity."Textuality of history" refers that history is recorded by texts. In addition, people can’t obtain the true past. Only through the written texts people are likely to know the past. To a certain extent, literary texts are capable of shaping the history and society and of being shaped under particular historical and social context. And history is always presented by texts. In a word, all the literary texts are created in particular historical context. Therefore texts must be influenced by historical context. At the same time, history is recorded by texts and the literary texts surely impact history.The thesis analyzes the relationship between It Can’t Happen Here and its social and historical context from the perspective of two concepts "historicity of text" and "textuality of history". First this thesis analyzes the impact of the historical context on the hero and heroines of It Can’t Happen Here. Sinclair Lewis characterizes his hero the representative of American middle class in late19th and early20th centuries. Doremus Jessup was born in1876, the100th anniversary of independence of America. Coincidentally, in the1870s the second Industrial Revolution occurred in America. After the revolution, capitalism was established worldwide. Naturally he has the time mark which it produces, namely time characteristic. The hero is full of enthusiasm and confidence, striving for independence, equality and freedom. At the same time, he possesses the distinct nostalgic quality of nineteenth-century style middle class. He sinks into the glorious past and becomes a negativist when facing the threat of fascism. The hero’s personality and way of behavior is the reflection and product of that period of time. Before It Can’t Happen Here is produced, American Women’s Suffrage Movement in the1920s exerts an influence on American society. As Lewis is a careful observer and sharp critic, he embodies his heroines the ideal image in feminists’minds in order to reflect that historical movement. Mary Greenhill is a common housewife, living a comfortable life. However after her husband is shot by the fascist, Mary refuses to communicate with others and deeply sinks into her memories. Luckily she goes through the hardest time and devotes herself to the fight against fascism. Cecilia Jessup was born in1919and she grows up in a comparative free and loose atmosphere for women. So she is brave to express her ideas and feelings. During the fight, she gradually becomes mature and strong-minded. Lorinda Pike is a smart and brave woman and also a feminist. She strongly opposes the anti-suffrage movement. The heroines, quite different from other females, are brave enough to require their own rights and equal with men. So the conclusion is that the heroines in It Can’t Happen Here start from American Women’s Suffrage Movement. Their living styles and way of struggle for their own rights are closely related to that historical movement. Therefore, the historical context at that time exerts an obvious influence on hero’s and heroines’way of thinking and behavior, which reflects "historicity of text".Secondly, the novel produces a representation of the historical context, recording the American particular political and social figures, events and movement and the threat of fascist dictatorship in America in the1930s. The economy crisis of1929makes a huge impact on American society, breaking of American dream and passing of economic prosperity. The well-to-do middle class find themselves in relief rolls. So it is easily to know that the literary texts record the history. The publication of the novel also has significant historical and social power:leaving valuable historical and cultural materials; drawing a social and political picture at that period of time; keeping Americans alert of fascist dangers. Lewis’s solutions to the political problems at that time are not workable but the questions he puts forward to about the justice and freedom remain useful and meaningful. So the novel records and makes an impact on the social and historical context in the1930s, which reflects "textuality of history".Based on the above analysis, it is concluded that It Can’t Happen Here is the product of social and historical context, and on the other hand the publication of It Can’t Happen Here makes an impact on the social and historical context, which the novel makes people alert for fascist dictatorship and raises a generation of Americans awareness of the fascist danger in the country. The analysis of it Can’t Happen Here can help readers have a much better understanding of tremendous contribution and profound influence Lewis achieves in American literary progress history. From the perspective of reality, the analysis of the novel can help readers have a good knowledge of the authentic outlook of American society. New Historicism provides a new perspective to literary study. In order to analyze the literary text, it can be put under the social and historical context in which it is created so that the text will have its new meaning.