The Self-reflection Of Human Nature From The Beating Event: A Freudian Interpretation Of By The Light Of My Father’s Smile

Alice Walker (1944--) is one of the most representative black female writers ofcontemporary literature. Her sixth novel By the Light of My Father’s Smile has receivedboth praise and blame since it was published in1998. Critics have discussed the themes,narrative structure and racial issues of the novel.In the process of literature review, the author of the thesis noticed that the beatingevent, which was a decisive event in the novel and a vital clue to changes of the maincharacters, was in a confusing situation. Even though the event was wholly agreed on as adecisive event in the novel, the reality of the beating event was not clear. Besides, none ofthe scholars and critics did research on the mental world of the characters throughpsychoanalytical approach which was closely related to the novel, particularly, the beatingevent in the novel. Furthermore, the human nature Walker reveals and explores fromself-reflection through the beating event has been overlooked.Adopting a new way of interpretation from Freudian Psychoanalysis, the author of thethesis intends to clarify the reality of the beating event, explains the causes, influences andresult of the beating event base on close reading, literature collecting and discussion.Therefore, the author will make an attempt to explain the puzzled phenomenon in the noveland reveal the human nature from the beating event through a deep understanding of thecharacters’ mental world.The research provides a brand-new perspective to interpret the novel and explores theessence of the beating event under its cover. Namely, the research justifies that Walker’sattention of writing the novel is not to accuse the unfairness and darkness in Black district.Instead, Walker aims to show more about the common nature of black people as humanbeing and their mental journey to hope and happiness through their own self-struggle andself-reflection.