Freedom In A.S.Byatt's Babel Tower And A Whistling Woman

As a contemporary writer who is concerned about “history” and “ideas”,A.S.Byatt pays close attention to “the swinging sixties” and the issue of freedom,which have been involved within her last two novels of the quartet Babel Tower and A Whistling Womam.Set in the 1960 s,both novels exhibit the idea of freedom from different aspects and viewpoints,and reflect Byatt's consideration of issues ranging from cultural liberalism to cultural movements at that time.Based on the historical and cultural context,this thesis attempts to interpret the idea of freedom in Babel Tower and A Whistling Woman and to explore Byatt's attitude towards freedom from the aspects of religion,censorship and sexuality.The thesis comprises six parts.The introductory part gives a brief introduction of A.S.Byatt,a summary of critical studies on Babel Tower and A Whistling Woman and raises the research questions of the thesis.Chapter one presents an overview of “the swinging sixties” and “cultural liberalism”,revealing a country in chaos and turbulence with rebellious spirit and liberal atmosphere.Chapter two focuses on the issues of freedom in the religious sphere.Freedom is manifested thorough religious tolerance and diversity in the novels,which in the meantime,triggers a crisis of conscience.Chapter three looks back into the history of censorship in Britain,expounding the deregulation in censorship in the case of Babbletower and revealing the necessity of censorship.Chapter four stresses freedom with an analysis of women's marriages and homosexual love between men,and questions the consequences of “overindulgence”.The 1960 s is admittedly an enviable time permeated with liberty.However,such knowledge is essential that freedom is unequal to “permissiveness”.The 1960 s needs intellect and rationality,freedom needs limit and degree.