The Predicaments In Jonathan Franzen's The Corrections

Jonathan Franzen(1959-) is one of the eminent and outstanding writers in America, whose works show great concern about the modern people's living condition in the consumer society. The Corrections, published in 2001, is the representative one to interpret his writing motivation. Based on the relevant theory of Baudrillard Jean's consumer culture, the thesis is to explore the predicaments of modern people in the consumer society and probe into the possible ways out of the dilemmas.In the first chapter, it examines the predicament due to the value conflicts. Both Alfred and Robin cannot adapt themselves to the consumer society for their ingrained value and consumer values, with Alfred's firm holding to the puritan ethics and Robin's tight adhering to her family tradition. By discussing their bewilderment in social values, this chapter points out that both the traditional values and the consumer values should be reconsidered. The second chapter presents the predicament arising from loss of self. Gary's obsession with money leads to his no sense of belonging; while Denise is stuck in gender trouble for indulging in seeking sexual pleasure. Through analyzing the loss of self, this chapter argues that people should keep their authentic selves in the mass consumption environment. The third chapter explores the possible ways out of the predicaments. By returning to family and resorting to self-introspection, everyone gets out of the plights. This implies a harmonious relationship between man and himself, man and man, man and the society should be established in the consumer society.By illustrating predicaments and the ways out of them, the thesis concludes that the consumer society brings people better life on the one hand; however, on the other hand, it is easy for people to get lost in this materialistic society if they go with the stream without any sense of self-hood. Focusing on the life of ordinary middle-class American family, Franzen expresses his concern for the common people and intends to seek an antidote to the consumer society, which expresses his humanism about the people in existential predicaments and the disordered society.