An Interpretation Of The Ritualized Spaces In August Wilson's Three Major Plays

Based on Henri Lefebvre's spatial theory and other dominating ritual theories,this thesis interprets the ritualized spaces in August Wilson's three major plays.Besides,this thesis discusses the features and functions of these ritualized spaces by analyzing the great odyssey they face from three levels in these plays;and it shows that African Americans choose to construct ritualized spaces as their way out.This thesis consists of five chapters: Chapter One is an introduction to August Wilson and his three major plays;meanwhile,it also systematically reviews the literary researches on Wilson and his works,states the theoretical framework,and puts forward the research contents and the key points of the thesis.Chapter Two analyzes the ritualized spaces in Joe Turner's Come and Gone.In this play,African Americans establish aesthetic ritualized spaces to obtain individual growth and healing through their artistic spatial practices.Chapter Three explains the ritualized spaces in The Piano Lesson.African American familial members build nostalgic ritualized spaces to gain familial reconciliation and reunion through the multilayered slave narratives.Chapter Four elucidates the ritualized spaces in Gem of the Ocean,and African Americans structure sacred ritualized spaces to acquire ethnic development and power through spiritual salvation—the journey to “the City of Bones”.Chapter Five is the conclusion,revealing that in Wilson's three major plays,African Americans construct their own ritualized spaces when they face the great odyssey,and show their love of ritual culture and pursuit of freedom and emancipation.All in all,rituality and spatiality are the two outstanding characteristics in the dramatic works of Wilson.By displaying the great difficulties African Americans face from individual,familial and ethnic aspects,this thesis reaches a conclusion that ritualized spaces are the solutions for these wounded ones: on the one hand,it represents the great odyssey that African Americans have been through;on the other hand,it reveals Wilson's advocate of culture-returning for African Americans.