Deconstruction Of Binary Opposition In Sinclair Lewis’s Ann Vickers

Sinclair Lewis (1885-1951) is the first American writer to be awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature (1930). Ann Vickers (1933) was the first book published after he won this prize. In the novel, Lewis creates some American new women represented by Ann Vickers. They struggle for independence and freedom in the male-dominant society. Since this novel includes deconstructive thoughts, this thesis aims to apply Derrida’s deconstructive theory to study the theme of the novel from the perspective of deconstruction of three pairs of binary oppositions of males/females. public sphere/private sphere and sexual morality/sexual liberty.The main portion of the thesis consists of three parts. In Chapter One, the author of the thesis explores the deconstruction of gender binary opposition in Ann Vickers. Sinclair Lewis creates some masculine protagonists, like Ann Vickers, so as to eliminate the stereotype of females. Besides, the male protagonists in the novel, like Glenn Hargis. become emasculated. Therefore. men lose their superiority. At the same time, the novel reveals that both genders have their merits and demerits; hence, the hierarchy of gender binary opposition disappears. Lewis’s intention to establish a harmonious relationship between genders is disclosed. In Chapter Two. the author analyses the deconstruction of binary opposition between public sphere and private sphere. In the novel. the public sphere no longer only belongs to males, and females are no longer the "angle in the house". Females intervene into the public sphere. Furthermore. females are not resigned to be oppressed in private sphere, so they endeavor to obtain houses of their own. Females and males can participate in varied affairs in both spheres freely. The gender attributes of the two spheres are deconstructed. In Chapter Three, the author probes the deconstruction of binary opposition between sexual morality and sexual liberty. In regard with sexual choices like premarital or extramarital sexuality, sexual orientation and reproductive decisions, the protagonists in the novel choose sexual liberty rather than obeying sexual morality. Thus, the significance of the marginal sexual liberty is emphasized. Moreover. the sexual choices are made by considering both sexual morality and sexual liberty. Then, binary opposition between them is deconstructed. Meanwhile. Lewis’s opinion that unreasonable sexual morality should be eliminated in order to satisfy individual sexual liberty is uncovered.Through the analysis of the deconstruction of binary oppositions in the novel. Sinclair Lewis’s tendency to overturn the logocentrism and binary opposition and his wish to establish a society without hierarchy and oppression are uncovered. His deconstructive thoughts shed light on exclusion of logocentrism and binary opposition in Chinese and Western culture at present.