On Female Bildungsroman As Reflected In Joyce Carol Oates’ Mudwoman

Joyce Carol Oates, the contemporary American writer, is considered as one ofthe most important novelists since the1960s. Since the publication of her first bookin1963, she has published more than50novels, and has won awards in the literaryworld, such as the National Book Award, the National Humanities Medal and the O.Henry Award. Her recent novel Mudwoman (2012) narrates the tough growingprocess of a successful female intellectual. This thesis studies the femaleBildungsroman as reflected in Mudwoman, showing the mature writer’s concerns forthe female intellectuals in real life, which has important reference to and value forthe contemporary female.The thesis explores why and how the heroine experiences the obstacles andchanges, finally achieve her self growth. The obstacles the heroine suffers from,including the absence of mother in childhood, the restrictions of family inadolescence and gender discriminations in middle age, hinder her self knowledgeand shadow her identity. The heroine experiences identity crisis, escape, sheddingand self-discovery to complete her inner development. In her growth, both positiveand negative influences of guides play an important role to identify with self.The thesis concludes that Mudwoman is a typical female Bildungsroman andhas the same features of the genre. As a case study of female Bildungsroman, itexpresses the author’s humanist concerns, especially for female intellectuals. As adistinguished writer, Oates emphasizes the importance in women’s spiritualwellbeing and quest for independence and gender equality, highlighting her humanistconcerns and inspiring contemporary women to face life actively, and to achieveself-actualization.